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186
JAIN RAMAYAN
Narad felt impelled to narrate the story of Mahakal, the monster and he began his narration.
"Once there was a city by name Charanyugal. A king by name Ayodhan was ruling over the city with his queen, Diti. His reign was peaceful and prosperous. He was spending his days peacefully. In course of time, the queen gave birth to a daughter. The princess was beautiful and charming. She grew like a beautiful flower-creeper and her name was Sulasa.
The father and the mother were immensely happy to have such a beautiful daughter. But at the same time, they were worried because they feared that it might be difficult to find a suitable bridegroom for her. The King consulted his Chief Minister and arranged a Swayamvar so that his daughter might choose a bridegroom after her own heart. A large number of kings and princes came from various countries eager to secure the hand of Sulasa in marriage because Sulasa was renowned to be a young lady of exceptional beauty. Of those who came to the Swayamvar, there was one king by name Sagar raja. He was renowned everywhere for his heroism, fabulous wealth and for his magnificent appearance. As soon he came there, he adopted a diplomatic method. By this method, he established contacts upto the harem through his attendant, Mandodari. He began to find out with the help of Mandodari, clues to the harem. He tried to find out secrets about the harem. Just at this time, once, Queen Diti went into the garden behind the harem, with her daughter, Sulasa to stroll about. Mandodari secretly followed them into the garden and overheard their conversation concealing herself in a bush.
Queen Diti and Sulasa sat in a bower of creepers to take rest; and began conversing. While they were conversing about various things, Queen Diti, incidentally asked her daughter :
"Dear daughter! Whom will you choose, among the princes assembled in the Swayamvar for your husband ?”
"I have not yet made up my mind about it, mother !” "Will you listen to my advice ?"
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