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The First Halt
385
I did not like Kamalata to know that I was poor and helpless because I feared that if she came to know that I was poor she would turn me out of her doors. She would stop loving me. So reluctantly, I promised to get her such ear-rings and secretly decided to steal the queen's ear-rings.
Accordingly, on a dark night I went to the palace to steal the queen's ear-rings. Lurking here and there, evading the watchful eyes of the guards and sentinels, somehow I managed to reach the queen's chamber but I heard King Simhodhar and Queen Sridhara conversing inside. On hearing this, I hid myself in a corner overhearing their conversation."
The traveller was continuing his narration. Sita moved nearer and continued to listen to the story with deep interest. Lakshman also was listening to the story with concentration. The story continued to flow like a river.
"In the chamber Queen Shridhara and King Simhodhar were conversing."
"My lord! I think you are agitated today. You do not seem to get sleep at all. I think you are unable to sleep on account of some excitement or agitation. I wonder what problem has been worrying you. You do not seem to have peace of mind.”
"Dear queen! How can I get sleep? I cannot sleep until I kill my subordinate King Vajrakarna. That wicked fellow does not salute me. He does not bow to me; on the contrary, he has been deceiving me. Therefore, tomorrow I will kill him. I will kill all the members of his family. Only then can I sleep peacefully. Enough! The night is far advanced.”
When I heard this conversation of the king and the queen at once an idea flashed to me. I thought, “Vajrakarna is a noble man; and so my duty is to save him and his family from destruction. I will save them from this danger.” Then giving up my plan of stealing the queen's ear-rings I went to tell him of the situation.” Saying this Vidyutang ended his narration
Vajrakarna collected in his fort wealth, food-grain and other commodities abundantly. He also collected weapons, and
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