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RATNASAR
107
hermit youth ? How do you live Dow in the shape of a bird ? I know not what karma may have put you to so much suffering. How will you get rid of this animal body ?"
The god stood near at hand. He changed the goose into her human form. It became a very happy occasion, an occasion of reunion of two dear sisters.
Jokingly, Ratpasar said to Tulakamanjari,
"The credit for this reunion should in part go to me I must have my due price”
"Sir, even if we give our all to you for all that you have done, that will be too inadequate a prices
So saying Tilakamadjari took out a precious necklace from her neck and placed it on Ratnasar He was not willing to accept it, but Tilakamanjarı was insistent and he could not disoblige her.
Tilakamanjarı also honoured the parrot suitably, The god then turned to Ratnasar and said,
"These two worthy ladies have already been allotted to thee by Goddess Chakreswari I am only to fulfil the ntual aspect now. I offer the hands of both the sisters unto thee and it behoves thee to signify thy acceptance."
Ratnasar could not decline such an offer. He gladly signified his assent.
It is a significant irony of life that it never moves in a straight line. At a moment when one feels he is in full possession of earthly pleasures, pains almost unknowingly creep in. One night, as Ratnasar was lying on his couch, he saw a terrible-looking man rushing towards him with bloodshot eyes and challenging him to a duel. As he got ready to meet him, the man picked up the cage with the parrot and fled. Ratnasar' pursued him upto a very long distance but could see him no more. He had now no doubt that his adversary was either a god, a demon or a Vidyadhara who had put him to an irreparable loss by taking away the parrot
But he did not turn his steps, and was decided not to
