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Mahakal, The Monster
187
"What is it? If I do not respect your advice whose advice else would I respect ?"
"I hope you know Madhuping, my brother's son”. "I know him very well”. “What do you think of him ?" "He is heroic and valiant”.
"Enough! My heartfelt desire is that you must choose him for your husband. You please decorate his neck with the garland of acceptance” Diti said feeling happy.
Mandodari heard this conversation from her place of concealment among the bushes. Hearing the proposal made by Diti, she was greatly startled and shocked. Yet the conversation was still incomplete. Sulasa had not given any reply to her mother's proposal. Mandodari was impatient to hear Sulasa's reply.
Sulasa began to think deeply about the unexpected proposal made by her mother. "Madhuping is a prince of high birth belonging to the lunar dynasty. He possesses a fascinating appearance; an extraordinary heroism and exceptional intelligence. If I choose him for my husband my mother will be supremely happy; and I too will find an ideal husband and will live happily with him".
Thinking thus for a few minutes, she said shyly : "Mother! I will surely act according to your desire. In the Swayamvar I will choose Madhuping”.
Mandodari began to rage with anger on hearing Sulasa's reply. At once, she went running to the guest-house of 'Sagar raja'.
The auspicious evening Arti had been performed in the temples. The goddess of the evening who had been decorated with colourful garments had disappeared a few moments ago. Slowly and gradually a cover of blackness was falling over the
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