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264
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1884.
upper garment wiped his eyes. The old man always by the side of Sundara. That he might continued, “Thus you, my faithful Raņavira- not lose the sweetness of boyhood in study and sing, know everything. I now wish that I play, Raņavirasing brought to the palace 20 had not performed all that I did to get this gentlemen's sons of good conduct and learning son. For when I die at this moment, who and made them the prince's fellow-students. is there to take care of him for the next P A professor for every branch of learning was Kharavadana may devise plan after plan to employed to teach the prince and his comparemove my boy from this world, and secure the nions. Sundara thus received a sound and liberal kingdom for himself. My only hope is in you. edacation, only he was never allowed to go I give him into your hands." Here the aged out of the palace. Raņavfrasing guarded him father, notwithstanding his illness, rose up very strictly, and he had every reason to do so. a little from his bed, took hold of his son's For Kharavadana, as soon as he became king, hand, and after kissing it for the last time, had issued a notice that the assassin of Sunplaced it in Ranavirasing's," Care not if he dara should have a reward of a karór mubrs; does not get the kingdom. If you only preserve and already every avaricious hand was in him from the wicked hands of the minister search of his head. Before the issue of this whom I have all along seen to be covetous of the notice, Kharavadana found out & good girl and throne, you will do a great work for your old married her to the prince. She was living master. I make you from this moment the lord with her husband in the palace, and Raņaviraof my palace. From this minute you are father, sing strictly watched her, as she came from the mother, brother, servant, and everything to my minister. He would not allow Sundara to son. Take care that you do not betray your sleep in the same room with her. These strict trust." Thus ended the king, and sending at watches and barriers to the sweet marriageonce for the minister, when he came he spoke to bed displeased the prince, even with his him thus, "Kharavadana! See what I am now. faithful servant. But the latter could not help Yesterday I was on the throne. To-day, in it till he had fall confidence in her. He used a few minutes, I must breathe my last. Such is to advise Sundara not even to take a betel-leaf the uncertainty of life. Man's good acta from her hands. But love is blind. So the alone follow him to the other world. Take prince within himself accused his old guardian; my signet-ring. [Here the king took the ring but he could not help following his orders. from off his finger, and gave it to the minister). Thas passed on a few years. Yours is the throne for the present, as long as Sundars reached his sixteenth year. Nothing the prince is in his minority. Govern well happened about the transference of the the kingdom. When the prince attains his kingdom ; the prince, almost in imprisonsixteenth year kindly give him back the throne. ment in the palace, had forgot everything Exercise & paternal care over him. Find a about the kingdom. Ranavirasing wished to good and intelligent princess for his wife." | wait till, as he thought, the prince had acquired Suddenly, before his speech was quite finished, better governing faculties. Thus some time the king felt the last pangs of death.
passed. The sage-looking minister promised him Full eight years had elapsed from the death everything.
of Sivachår. Sundara was already eighteen, Sivachar breathed his last. After the usual and still he had not received his kingdom. No. weeping and wailing of a Hindú funeral, his thing was neglected in his education. Though corpse was burnt to ashes in & sandalwood Ranavirasing exercised all paternal care over pyre. All his queens-and there were several him, still it was not to his liking; for he found scores-committed sati with the corpse. The in him a great barrier to the pleasures of ceremonies were all regularly conducted, the youth. The only pleasure for the prince, thereminister himself superintended everything fore, was the company of his friends.
Kharavadana then succeeded to the throne One fine evening on the fourteenth day of of Vapjaimanagar. Raņavfrasing became the the dark half of Vaisakha month of the lord of the palace, and true to his promise Vasanta season, the prince was sitting with his exercised all care over his trust. He was companions in the seventh story of his mansion
