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48
JAINA STORIES
The hunchback who had a great capacity for acquisition expressed a desire to acquire this power, but the king suggested at once an exchange with the huncback's won poner and to this both agreed So, in the course of the flight, they acquired cach other's power Now the chariot landed at Kundidapura even two hours before the scheduled time
Nos, as the hing looked at the town, life appeared to be quite normal, and inere was no sign of any special occasion When the news of the king's arrival reached Bhima, he received his honoured guest, with no less honour for the charioteer, the hunchback, and both were lodged in an elegant apartment not far from Damayanti's own King Bhima enquired abount the business that had brought the king to his kingdom King Dadhiparna at once realised that he had set his foot in a trap So he became careful in his talk
Meanwhile, Damayantı had occasion to observe the hunchback, and she had little doubt about his being Kiog Nala She told this to her father The hunchback entertained the host family with food cooked in the rays of the sun Damayanti was now pretty sure that this could be none other than Nala, for Nala alone possessed the two powers,-- power to cook in the rays of the son, and power to drive the chariot through the air So she requested her father to send the hunchback to her room on some pretext
This was not difficult The hunchback now stood face to face with Damayanti, and there were tears in their eyes and emotion in their hearts For some time, none could speak a word Then Damayanti broke the silence,
“My dear! What was my fault that you gave me up alone in that lonely and dreadful forest ? Even an ordinary human being will not do that, and you count among the great souls Even non you have not revealed your identity Is it proper for you?
