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50
ŚRNGARAMAÑJARIKATHA
BHATTAMĂTRGUPTA like that or myself?” On hearing that, she smiled a little, stood there for a second and then entering the bedroom, taking the king's dagger lying on it, severed her head.
Then with his mind full of misgivings VIKRAMARKA entered within and saw her with the head cut off. As if struck by lightening, as if enveloped in flames, as if gazed at by a poisonous snake, he stood there a moment. Afterwards, with due consideration he called BHATTAMATŘGUPTA inside and said:
“BHATTAMĀTRGUPTA! do you see the end of harlotry?" He said: "Sire, I have seen it. What else shall I say but this, that this is harlotry too.".
(46) The king was wrathful. Disregarding BHATTAMATĘGUPTA, making his servants lift her up as she was, he came to the temple of the Goddess Āśāpurā. VIKRAMADITYA sent his whole retinue outside and himself prepared to cut off his head. That moment the Goddess Āśāpurā caught hold of his hand and said:
"Son, O son! do not be rash. You are not an ordinary person. Why do you put an end to your life out of sheer compassion for others?”
He answered "Forgive me, Oh Divine One! Please leave off my hand. I shall present you a desirable offering today." The Goddess said: "I am pleased with your extraordinary valour. Therefore speak, what do you desire?” VIKRAMARKA said to her: "Goddess! Let LAVAŅYASUNDARI come back to life". And the Goddess made her alive again.
Happy in mind VIKRAMĀRKA returned with her to the palace. Everywhere felicitations were offered and the townsmen were all very happy. Thus the days of those two, satisfied, happy and deeply attached to one another, were spent.
And now one day, after meals, when the day was practically at end, when the friend of the lotuses was gradually going to the western direction, VIKRAMARKA, seated in the ivory balcony with her, saw a lord of the elephants named RIPUDALANA who was roaming about at pleasure. The (elephant) was as it were devouring the orb of the earth by his four feet which bore striking resemblance to caskets made of black jewels; possessing jewels in the form of nails as if they were the eighteen extensive islands come under his feet; looking handsome with his well formed hind-quarter and shining skin looking like the mansion of pleasures of the Goddess of Beauty; adorned by strong and well built shoulders as if
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