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INTRODUCTION
with utmost hospitality. I was seen by the Heroine (the King passionately broods on her). After spending some time happily, I took leave of the Queen. On my way back I met Candanika who made a truce with me and gave me this letter in Heroine's hand-writing. Here it is." With thrill the King.reads the love letter as well as the stanzas from Candanika and Candrika. Further Viduşaka conveys to the King that Candanika told him how the Queen has come to know Heroine's skill in singing, how she has fixed her musical entertainment in the Ruby Park (padmarāgarāma) nearby so that the King might not know it, and how the King (and Vidūṣaka, of course at Candanika's request) might witness the same secretly from a secluded spot. As they found the Queen and Heroine going to the Ruby Park, they also proceeded to the Park and took their seat on a sapphire slab under the Tamala, not being visible to others.
Scene 4 (II. 33. 1-).
Scene 3 (II. 16. 7-). Ruby Park: Enter the Queen and (lovestricken) Heroine with retinue. The King feels happy to have a glimpse of Heroine's beautiful face; while she, reminded of the Emerald Park, is feeling love-sick.The Queen, Heroine etc. take their seat on a dias of lapis lazuli. The Heroine begins to play on the lute and sing. Vidūşaka appreciates her specialised skill, and the King is simply amazed at it. Vidūşaka describes her various limbs etc. in one line, and the King adds the other line of the stanza interpreting the description with some fanciful imagery. The musical entertainment is over, and the King feels sorry. Exeunt Queen, Heroine and retinue.
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On way back from the Ruby Park: The King and Vidūşaka stop for a while to hear what Naktamālikā and Tamālikā, the latter with a statue (salabhañjikā) in hand, are talking as they are going towards them. It is evident from their conversation that the Queen has suspected King's affection for the Heroine. She had received, as a present, a Śārikā bird, Bandhumati by name, of retentive Sarada of Kaśmīra. from memory She placed the bird within the throat of a statue which was trickily put in the assembly hall where the King and Viduaşka conversed. The bird has heard all that the King
queen
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