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96
S. T. Nimkar
1013. Don't you understand, that in this world, one who is dead
is gone (forever) ? Believe (me), how can he meet with his
beloved persons (ever at all) ? 1014. So why die in vain. like an ordinary man ? If you do not
wish (to rule your) kingdom here, come, let us go to Pātāla. 1015. There. for the self-possessed (or strong-minded) persons, the
heavenly enjoyments are available eight times as much, and thousands of years (pass) unnoticed and without any old age
or disease" 1016. Hearing this, my sweet one, (lit, one with eyes like those, of
a frightened fawn), the king thought for long and (at last)
agreed to what the monk had said. 1017. And the next morning (or, on one morning), having handed
over his kingdom to his son, the king, despaired of getting Lilävati (or, V.L. not slow in his desire to get Lilāvati).
started. 1018. With his heart given over to despair (lit. dissatisfaction).
and (still) thinking much of that (kind of) death, he went
out of his city at Nāgārjuna's insistence. 1019. Causing unbearabie distress to his vassals, ministers, servants,
relations, friends and subjects, he went to the bank of
the river Godāvari. 1020. The king had gone together with two hundred close (i.e.
personal) attendants, two hundred princes and one hundred
poets. 1021. Along with Vijayānanda, accompanied by the monk Nāgārjuna
the king who had reached the river bank moved towards
the Patala. 1022. Then, O my Beauty, together with his dear, wise and brave
men, he reached the entrance to Pātāla, which was guarded
by a lion. 1023. Then, ignoring that lion, who was fierce with a roar given
out from his huge open mouth, they all started (ahead), 1024. Then, at a distance of half a Yojana, they saw a second
gateway covered with a huge boulder and attended by the hosts of Gancsa.
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