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TRANSLATION
49
looking anxiously at the watery clouds, saw him coming. When he told her of the king's acceptance of her, she was mighty pleased. She quickly came to the king's palace. When LAVANYASUNDARI came, the king, full of love, enjoyed amorous pleasures in her company that night. And in the morning having performed his morning worship and having finished his meals etc., seated comfortably and happily, he told the whole affair to BHATTAMĀTRGUPTA. (45) Hearing about it BHATTAMATRGUPTA said to him:
"Sire different kinds of selfish women move about the earth. Therefore, your Lordship should not trust them. I know this is harlotry". When BHATTAMATŘGUPTA told him thus, he thought 'Do I not know what is natural love and what is harlotry? Let it be. What have I to do with it. BHATTAMATŘGUPTA is venerable, therefore I shall not say anything. He is always like that. Thus disregarding him he confidentially spent many days in her company.
But BHATTAMATRGUPTA again and again reminded him of his words. One day while he was thus reminding, the king said: "Then how can true love be known? When I test her, she does not even protect herself. On the other hand all signs of love are visible in her. And I do not notice any aversion in her such as thinking of some one else even in dreams”. Whe he said this to BHATTAMATRGUPTA, he again said to the king:
“Then your Lordship should test her by rustic methods". But in order to test her, as he derided her more and more by such vulgar methods as cutting of her nails, teeth, and hair, she became more and more pleased and affectionate. He told BHAȚTAMATRGUPTA everything. When he said: “You always scoff her by saying this is all harlotry, nothing but harlotry, but not a single act of her's is like that of a harlot," to him BHATTAMATRGUPTA again said, "She is a clever rogue that she has produced this illusion in your Lordship's mind. Now I am convinced that all this is harlotry."
Through others she knew what BHATTAMATŘGUPTA said (about her) and being always apprehensive looked upon him with great awe. But once it occurred to her that many days had passed and the time (of six months) would soon be over. Thus thinking she came where the king and BHATTAMATRGUPTA were talking and sitting for a moment, said “This is indeed the fruit of your favour that having come from a distance out of love for your merits, this person says it is all harlotry. Let it be so. This consideration indeed is a proper return for my love. It is well that you, a king, and this one, towards whom you are favourably disposed, are in unison." The king exclaimed: "Who told you this falsehood? Is
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