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NALA-DAMAYANTI
47
“This is a golden opportunity to win the hand of this worthy lady but it seems that time will be the major hurdle "
The hunchback smiled and said, “Your Majesty! I can take you to Kundinapur even before time. I have the power to quicken the pace of the horses "
The king was now out of a difficult situation He dressed himself suitably for the occasion, with all the decorations displayed on his person Duly attended by his men, the king now took his seat on the chariot The chariot pierced through the air at a great speed At the gust of the wind, the king's costly wrapper was swept away When the ling asked his charioteer to stop the chariot and pick it up the hunchback smiled and sud,
“Your Majesty! By this time, it must be at a distance of a hundred yojanas ( 300 miles )."
So the king gave up all hope of recovering it
The king and the hunchback were now talking about the wonderful power that gave so much speed to the horses The ding was jealous of his charioteer, but he said,
"If you are an expert in speed, I am an expert in numbers I can count in a moment all the fruits and leaves even on the biggest of trees If we had time, I could hare demonstrated it”
“We have plenty of time, sire, and if you so please, you may demonstrate this power to me"
So the chariot was stopped There was a big bahera tree there It was felled down at once and the king declared that it had 18000 leaves Acount was at once started and the king's figure came out to be correct
