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appreciate merit, and is treacherous and deceitful.' Then King Dadhiparna, hearing the news of the death of Nala, was so grieved that his grief cannot be described. One day King Dadhiparna sent an ambassador for some reason or other to the father of Davadantí. King Bhímaratha received him kindly. One day, on some occasion or other, the ambassador happened to say to King Bhímaratha: 'My master has Nala's cook. He has been taught by Nala how to make a delicious dish cooked in the sun.' Then Davadantí, hearing of it, said to her father: Father, send a spy, and find out what kind of a man this cook is. There is no one in the world, except Nala, that knows how to make a delicious dish cooked in the sun. Perhaps it may be Nala in disguise.' Then King Bhímaratha sent a Bráhman named Kuçala, skilful in his master's affairs, to find out the appearance of Dadhiparna's cook. The Bráhman Kuçala went to the city of Sumsumára. Moreover, his zeal was doubled by good omens. When he saw the hunchback, he was depressed and despondent, and thought: 'What a difference between Nala of godlike beauty and this hunchback! There is as much difference between them as between Meru and a mustard-seed.' Then the messenger, having reflected a little in his mind, sang a dodhaka song:
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Surely Nala was a singularly heartless, cruel villain, and no mistake, Since he left at mght the chaste Davadantí asleep in the forest.'
Then the hunchback, hearing the song sung again and again, remembered Davadantí, and lamented with a shower of tears. Kuçala said: 'Hunchback, why do you weep?' The hunchback answered: 'I weep on hearing your song, full of pathetic sentiment.' Then the hunchback asked Kuçala the meaning of the song. Then Kuçala told the whole story, from the gambling of Nala until Davadantí's entry into the city of Kundina. Kuçala went on to say: Hunchback, the ambassador of King Dadhiparna told King Bhímaratha that you could prepare a delicious sun-cooked dish. Now, Nala also was able to prepare this dish; and reffecting on this, Davadantí persuaded her father to send
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