________________
S. T. Nimkar
697. He, for whom I kept my kingdom, my life, my wealth
and servants, is no more ! now, what is the use of this
burden of a kingdom ? 698. Oh my darling ! I will hand over my kingdom and retinue
to your brother, and I will go to the forest with my mind concentrated on doing things) worthy of the other world
(or heaven)”. 699. So, as our king has left the kingdom and decided on going
to forest, the people are all the more lamenting as they
remember the happiness of his favours." 700. Thus, o brother, hearing all this, painful to hear, I returned
(from there) with my heart (still) not broken and my life
not ended (yet). 701. I considered what would be better for us (or, me) now,
life or death; if I lived, Mahānumati would live and she
would die if I died. 702. So deciding in my mind that it would be better to live
than to die, after a long time. I came somehow to our
place of residence, with ny face covered with tears. 703. With my eyes full of tears and my face looking miserable
I made everything known to her from a distance merely
by my looks, wretched that I am ! 704. And with my heart hard like adamant, I told her all that
unutterable (account) which should not be heard even by
your enemies. 705. Hearing that at once she collapsed as if struck at the
vital and fell down on the ground crying “Oh alas !!
What is this !" 706. Thon, being afraid of the arrival of the elders (there), I
took her head in my lap and consoled her at great
length. 707. Fearing the elders she wept softly, with her eyes covered
with flooding tears, while her weeping attendants (almost) gave up hope for (her) life.
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