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the temple. He thought, "What is this? Or, it may be nothing else; only the play of an adverse fate! When it is adverse, even nectar becomes poison, even a rope a black serpent, even a puddle an ocean, even an atom a mountain, even the rat's hole the netherworld, even a good person a bad person, even
son an enemy, even the mother a she-serpent, even light darkness, even forgiveness anger, even tenderness pride, even straightforwardness a deceit, even contentment greed, even truth an untruth, even the dear one harsh, even the wife an antagonist. So what is the use of thinking about this? One under its sway can not act otherwise. Even more than this mishap, [26] what troubles me is, that the miserable lady who has not experienced the separation from relatives is not seen. Or, it is better that she is not seen; for she, tarnished by the blemish attaching to me, will get the same mishap. Thinking so, he was taken to the royal palace.
15
He was held on the main road, as the king had no time. The day was over. He was then announced to the king, by
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