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gave birth to a daughter. Then the king had proclaimed by beat of drum through the whole town: “Whoever has a daughter born in his house to-day must report the same to me. Now, there was a merchant of the name of Gobhadra living there, who had a 'wife named Bhadrá. She gave birth to a daughter that same day. Likewise a daughter was born in the house of that Kusumapála. Gobhadra and Kusumapála went both of them to the king's palace, and said : 'Your majesty, both of us have had daughters born to us to-day. The king honoured them, and said : ‘Both of them must be my daughter's companions.' They, after receiving the order of the king, returned home. The merchant Gobhadra named his daughter Subhadrá, and the gardener Kusumapála named his Pushpavati. The king named his daughter Somaçrí. So the princess associ. ated with these two companions. In time they all grew up. So they began to think who should be the husband of all three of them. One day Pushpavatí saw Dhanya, and fell in love with him. She said in her own mind : Truly this is a handsome man, and full of merit, for since his arrival trees, that had not a single flower before, have put forth flowers and fruit. So he will be a fitting husband for all three of us. Accordingly I must by some artifice let the princess know about him.' So she made Dhanya prepare a bouquet constructed with curious art, and going to the king's palace, she made it over to her companion Somaçrí. When she saw that bouquet, she said to her companion : 'Friend, who made this bouquet ?' Pushpavati said: 'My friend, there is a young man staying in our house who is in appearance like the god of love, and is skilful in all accomplishments; he has sent you this bouquet to show his skill.' Then Somaçrí, hearing his name, thought: 'I will marry no one but him.' And from that day forth she remained thinking of him, with her cheek resting on the palm of her left hand, with her lower lip agitated with deep-drawn hot sighs, neglecting all other concerns. Then the king heard of the condition in which his daughter was from the attendants; so he sent the warder and summoned
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