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THE WHEEL OF JOY AND SORROW
Casting upon his heart the bundle of his shattered ambitions and frustrated aspirations, Pavananjay set off in the direction of his capital city, Adityapur,
King Prahlad gave his daughter-in-law, Anjana, a magnificent, seven-toreyed mansion for her residence. It was as if some heavenly mansion had been transplanted on the earth. Some mysterious beauty radiated from its walls and towers. The mansion overflowed with countless attendants, servants, the old members of the royal family and innumerable maids and companions whose movements to and fro seemed to be sinuous streams of silvery radiance. Everyone who saw Anjana's unexampled beauty became spell-bound with amazement. No one could refrain from admiring her beauty in unaffected terms. No one felt tired of glorifying the astounding grace and beauty of her form. All showered upon her the flowers of heartfelt admiration. Throughout the day visitors called upon Anjana; and praised the good fortune of King Prahlad and Queen Ketumati in securing such a daughter-in-law.
The day passed thus. The goddess of the night entered the earth placing her steps in a slow and leisurely manner. Anjana's heart thirsting for love was waiting eagerly to drink deep at the spring of love. She was impatiently waiting for the arrival of her dear husband, like a Chataka bird looking for rain-bearing clouds. Her eager and expectant eyes, again and again, kept looking towards the door, hoping to have a glimpse of her hus
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