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you seen her anywhere with your eyes, or have you heard of her, or do you know by your knowledge that she is living anywhere, that you speak thus confidently ?' The hermit answered: Prince, I know all about your beloved by my supernatural knowledge. As you see me, such is she in the city of Yama, the land of the southern region. So I will transport myself into the realm of Yama instead of her, and will bring that Rishidattá here for the sake of you, my friend.' Then the prince said: 'Hermit, if this be so, further delay is out of place.' The hermit answered: 'Prince, can one travel to the southern region with the momentary speed of thought? One would catch cold for nothing.' The prince said: Long ago I gave you my heart; now I give you my very self.' The hermit answered: 'Remain, prince, in possession of your own self; if hereafter I ask you for any boon, you must grant it me.' The prince said: 'So be it.' After this conversation, the hermit went behind a screen, and after remaining there a moment, during which she got rid of the form of a male hermit by means of a second herb, she appeared from behind the screen as Rishidattá, the daughter of Harisheṇa, and at that moment a troop of gods rained flowers on her head. When the people saw her, they said to one another: 'Rukmini compared with Rishidattá is like brass compared with gold. So Prince Kanakaratha was quite right in his persistent intention; who would not die for such a woman?' As for the prince himself, he could not have enough of gazing at Rishidattá, whom he had not seen for such a long time. Moreover, Surasundara was exceedingly delighted when he saw her. Then King Surasundara placed Rishidattá and the prince on a huge elephant, and took them to his own palace; and there, to show his respect for her, he honoured her with a bath, with clothes, jewels and other things of the kind. Then the king had that wicked witch, Sulasá, mounted on an ass and led round the city. Cymbals and drums were beaten before her, the citizens abused her at every step, and at every step people beat her with sticks, fists and other things, and at
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