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216
ROPADITYAKATHA
at the end according to the inside policy, do supplication for protection (prasidhāna), and meditation of the 'Dependent Origination (pratityasamutpāda).' Having said so, they gave the kingdom to their son.
Then the king Candrasena took his great elephant with the trunk which is red like vermilion, as a leader, and loaded immeasurable things(?) on elephants, horses, buffaloes, and various chariots. Moreover, he took fresh meat, warm blood, and new skin, together with many thousands of animals for offering in a sacrifice that is performed with flesh and blood.
The king mounted on his own black horse named 'Cloudpower' (Meghasakti). And the horse surrounded by immeasurable attendants, such as Ah.mon and others, and guided specially by the learned (minister) Aponage, went in the east of the city to a great place, a forest which is fearful, and called. 'Mingled with Poisonous Snakes'. Outside there was a self-evolved (svayambhū) image made of stone of Mahādeva. It did not touch the earth, but remained in the sky. Having offered there worship for power and magnificence he went away.
On his way he saw a low-caste but beautiful girl that was washing her hair. She was adorned with various ornaments. She could act beautifully, dance pleasantly and sing sweetly. She was very beautiful. And she could not be sufficiently known by a look. Having put the arrow of her side-long glance on the bow of her slight smile, she made the mind of the king like a deer and its young one, as wherever the latter goes the former follows it.
