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JAIN RAMAYAN
ing. He looked at the prince with fixed eyes and tried in vain to probe the prince's innate feelings and thoughts.
Prince Vajrakant could not get a wink of sleep that night. He kept turning on his bed from side to side thinking of Vegavati. The thoughts relating to Vegavati caused him great excitement and agitation. Vegavati became the angel of his sweetest dreams. He became impatient to secure her. Since she was the daughter of the court-priest, it was easy for him to secure her. Therefore the next morning, he sent a messenger to the court-priest Shribhuti with the message that he must meet him at once in his chamber.
Accordingly, Shribhuti appeared in the chamber of the prince.
"Shribhuti! Will you grant a wish of mine ?”
“Dear Prince, I will surely give whatever you ask for, if it is within my power to give it. Whatever I have belongs to you." Shribhuti spoke in a plain manner but he was not aware of the ignoble desire of the Prince.
"Shribhuti! You are our beloved court-priest. Therefore, I am sure that you will certainly give me what I am going to ask you to give me. If you grant my wish, I will bestow upon you enormous wealth. I desire the hand of your daughter in marriage. I desire to make her my queen. Will you give your consent to this proposal of mine ?" Shribhuti was stupefied to hear this. He had never dreamt that the prince would desire his daughter's hand in marriage. He fell into a deep conflict. How could he give any reply to the Prince ? He was silent; but he had to give a reply. He could not avoid giving a reply; so after thinking for a while, he said;
“Dear Prince! I cannot say anything now because before saying anything to you, I have to discuss the matter with Vegavati and her mother."
"You can discuss the matter with them but you must give me a reply soon. Remember! You should not reject my propo
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