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MAIRAVATI
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because of ill-health. They brought him before the king. His ears were rotten, nose dull and flat, lips long and projected and cheeks marked by depression His body was all bones and no flesh, with distinct marks of leprosy The king's pride was now gratified He turned to the princess and said,
"Well, madam ! In deference to your karna, this man has been brought here it is my order that you marry him”
The truly great have no gap in their profession and practice The princess slowly came down and courted the leper as her husband The whole court was stunned and mortified, but not the king His pride and vengeance were fully gratified The princes was then deprived of her jewellery and rich robes and turned out from the city
The two took shelter in the precincts of a temple to spend the night there The leper's compassion was up. Addressing the princess, he said :
“Noble lady 1 Whatever the king has done has been unjust and malicious This is neither good for thee nor for the royal household. Thou art a lovely damsel of noble birth, and I am only a poor leper. I am not fit for thee. So, madam, I regret my inability to accept thee and gladly do I permit thee to give me up You forget about me and marry some suitable young man I have no doubt, whercver you go, you will be an asset"
The princess appealed : "My dear! What do I hear from thee? When sins are up, one is born as a woman, and for a woman to give up purity is more sinful You suggest me to do that. Youth, beauty, wealth-these come and go, but purity is a rarest acquisition You may be rich or poor, -Well or ill, but you are my all In future, may I not hear that you have said just now"
The leper vas happy at this unusual reply. The sun bad gone down and the leper was asleep. Only the princess was awake She saw an old lady coming towards her. A young man accompanied her, The lady came to the princess and said,
