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“My son! Strictly observing the customary usage of my ancesters and jubily punighing rogues, I governed my kingdom for a long time. Now, you excel me by bodily strength, excellence of meritorious deeds, and valour, you, therefore, accept the kingdom and protect the country in accordance with our heriditory custom; and I shall practise the True Religion followed by my ancestora." Nara-Vikrama Kumāra replied:-"Father ! Please suspend this idea for the present. I am extremely eager for your dardana (meeting). I bave come here after a long interval. This is not the appropriate opportunity for that.auspicious deed. You remain a house-holder for a few years more." The king said :- My dear son ! Do you not see this head full of white hairs? Why do you not examine this skeleton-like body? These rows of teeth shake when I attempt io chew a little; my eye-sight cannot do the work ci seeing objects; my whole body is full of wrinkles and my body has become disabled to do my work. O son! Do you not actually gee my deplorable condition ! Even after actually experiencing the disordered condition of my body by the loss of its former elegance, how can I possibly remain as a house holder even for a moment, like the withered disc of the Sun gone to the West, and the disc of the Moon during early morning or like the withered leaves of an extremely old worn out tree, and the forest of lotus-flowers contracting at the setting of the Sun. You, therefore, leave off your insistance. Accept my words and be a helper in my religious affairs." On knowing the firm resolution of his father, the Kumāra sitting still, as if he had been hart by a thunder-bolt on account of agonies never previously undergone or as if he were prepared from plaster or as if he were engraved in a piece of marble or as if he were painted in a portrait, began to cry very loudly. The king quieted him with gentle words. NaraVikrama Kumāra accepted with great difficulty, the king's proposal of his coronation On an auspicious day, the coronationceremony of Nara-Vikrama Kumāra was performed in the presence of ministers, feudatory rulers, friends, grandees, and
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