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LECTURE XXII.
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descended (from heaven), according to the established custom, to celebrate, with great pomp together with their retinue, the event of his renunciation. (21)
Surrounded by gods and men, and sitting on an excellent palankin, the Venerable One left Dvârakâ and ascended mount Raivataka ?. (22)
On arriving at the park he descended from his excellent palankin, surrounded by a crowd of thousands, and then his renunciation took place, while the moon was in conjunction with Kitrâ 2. (23)
Then he himself plucked out his delightfullyperfumed, soft, and curled hair in five handfuls. (24)
And Väsudêva said to that subduer of the senses, who had plucked out his hair : 'O lord of ascetics, may you soon obtain what you wish and desire. (25)
'Increase in knowledge, faith, and right conduct, in forbearance and perfection !' (26)
In this manner Râma and Kêsava, the Dasârhas, and many people paid homage to Arishtanêmi and then returned to the town of Dvârakâ. (27)
When the daughter of the king heard of the ordination of the Gina, laughter and gaiety forsook her, and she was overwhelmed with affliction 3 (28)
i Raivataka is mount Girnâr in Kathiawad. The hill is one of the most sacred places of the Gainas, and is covered with temples of the Ginas. It is also sacred to the Hindus on account of its connection with the history of Krishna. The poetical description of mount Raivataka forms the subject of the fourth sarga of the Sisupâlavadha by Mâgha.
2 The lunar mansion, the chief star of which is Spica or a Virginis.
3 The lamentation of Râgîmatî on her husband's becoming an ascetic forms the subject of a curious Sanskrit poem called Nêmidûtakâvya, by Vikrama, son of Sanghana, which has been edited in
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