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circumstances although I was helpless and why do you not talk with me now although I am blameless? Ab! affectionate brother! Ah! Sister! Why did you go away simultaneously, leaving me alone greatly distressed, although you were really affectionate? Ahl daughter! I got you married spending large sums of money at great risk; however you caine to such a deplorable condition. Ah! Yaksa, Brahmā, Hari, Surya, Buddha, Skanda, Rudra, and other gods. Why do you neglect us, now, although we constantly worshipped you? Protect us now."
In this way, people were constantly crying piteously in squares, courtyards, and quadrangles, and leaving off all their other business they began to pass their days miserably. People died either through diseases, or vitiation of bodily humours, or affliction of separation from departed beloveds, or through heart failure. Many excellent houses became desolate, very large families became annihilated, narrow streets of the village became blocked by numerous dead bodies. The few who escaped death began to have mystic circles painted for the protection of their body out of fear of approaching death, bome worshipped the images of the planets, some gave offerings to the manes, recited mystica. incantations, and put on celestial gems on parts of their bodies; some performed sacrifices some consulted clever astrologers; some commenced festivals in honour of domestic deities, and some others performed all the ceremonies shown by other people. However. Sülapāni was not in the least pacified like a great pestilence, or a lion distressed with excessive hunger, or å mass of nikācita Karmas (a dense mass of evil which cannot be wiped off by penance, but which have to be experienced).
When the epidemic of plague did not subside, people of the village, leaving their wealth, gold, cows buffaloes, horses etc in their houses, and taking their own selves and their kinsmen, went away to different villages. There, also, the Vyantara (ghost) began to harass them. One day they thought:--We have not offended any god, demi-god, any local guardian deity, Yakṣa or any giant. However, let us go there and adore them. The people
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