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pleased with anyone but Vasantadeva. But now, what is the use of this reproach ? Anyhow, by thy favour, let him be my husband in another birth." Having said this, she was proceeding to hang herself on the arch of the god's temple, but at that moment Vasantadeva rushed out and saved her life. When she saw him, she wondered where he could have come from. Vasantadeva said: “I am the lover for whom you asked the god of love. This is my friend. We entered this temple before you, and have devised a plan for carrying you off. Now, give your ornaments and other things to this friend of mine, in order that, wearing your clothes, he may return to your house, and we two may go to another country.” When he said this to Kesará she gave her clothes to Kámapála, and taking the clothes of Kámapála, she herself remained hidden behind the image of the god. Kámapála for his part, in female garments, having his whole body wrapped up in them, and covering his face with the veil,* opened the door of the temple of the god of love and went out. He gave into the hand of Priyankará the vessel containing the implements of worship, and, holding her hand, got up into the litter. Immediately the servants lifted up the litter, and so he went to the house of the merchant Panchanandin without being discovered. Even Brahmá does not penetrate a well-laid plot. When he had reached the house and got out of the litter he was taken to the bride's apartment. Priyankará said to him, “ Call to mind the spell that produces union with the beloved," and went out. Kámapála, for his part, set himself to call to mind a spell for ensuring union with his love. At this moment the daughter of Kesara's uncle by the maternal side, Mairá by name, who had come there to be present at the wedding, and who had been seen on that previous occasion by Kámapála, entered the bride's chamber and
* Nirangi, which Hemachandra in his Decinámamálá' paraphrases by çirovagunthanam.
f I read here dambhasya for damtasya. See Böhtlingk's 'Indische Sprüche,' No. 7,112.
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