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became so perplexed ! Over and above that, what wrong did the Kumāra do in giving protection to a helpless respectable pregnant woman! Fathers are satisfied even with wicked peanks of their children. You have spread your Infamy with your own hands and religious preceptors will also discard the kingdom of King Nara-simba. You take back the signet rings of our appo. intment as ministers along with our wealth and property and make us free from your service. O lord ! we cannot tolerate the the touch of the dust of such infamy. "On hearing this, the King was much grieved at heart and immediately admitting his fanlt, he told the ministers: O good l-hearted ministers ! Yan glve me pardon for my fault that I took this rash step without asking you, On account of intense anger, I could not make out what was right and what was wrong. But from what you say that one would not like to forsake his own son although the son may be blame-worthy, I now understand that Laxmi (the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity) has cheated me under the pretext of this incidence. I also understand that since you are ready to resign your much-coveted post of a minister, I do admit that officers who are devoutly attached to the State are good-minded, but my only son capable of bearing the burden of government of my entire kingdom, went away to a foreign land and you are now ready to discard me. I am not able to suffer the pangs of both the incidents. I request you to attend.to your usual work, and make inquries in every way you possibly can, about the where-abouts of the prince. This is not an occasion for manifestation of anger.”
By the judicious persuation of the king the ministers accepted the King's proposal and sent experienced horse-men in all directions for making inquiries about the Kumāra's whereabouts. They made careful inquiries in various provinces for many days but unable to trace out any news about the Kumāra they returned home and informed the king who was sitting with his ministers in the assemblyhall about the failure of their mission. The King was extremely sorry. The ministers told the bewailing king:-"O good klag!
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