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68
ŚRNGARAMANJARIKATHA
Next day, she went to a bawd called DHONDA and said "Mother, I will not disobey your words, but I will not be able to live once he is gone, therefore tell me what should I do?” The bawd made many efforts to dissuade her from going, but when she did not comply, the bawd thought: 'Well, be it so. The delicate one will herself get tired after going some distance and will return'..and permitted her to go, adding "All right, I will also come with you".
LAVANYASUNDARI and the bawd accompanied RATNA DATTA. Travelling slowly, after many days they came to the town of Pūrņapathaka. Outside the town, under a mango tree, RATNA. DATTA slept placing his head on the lap of LAVAŅYASUNDARI. When the servants went to the town to bring food, it occured to the bawd that LAVANYASUNDARI seemed determined to go with him therefore she must make a plot to file a complaint with the king, get him killed, and take her back to town. Accordingly, collecting flowers she went to the king SÜRADHARMAN and informed him "Sire, in my youth, after my bath on the fourth day you had sexual union with me. Of that a daughter was born to me. As she was born of you, she is lovely indeed. At present, she is being lured away by a thug. Therefore I have come to inform Your Majesty, You can do what you think fit."
"Immediately arrest him who has cheated my daughter," the king ordered the police officer. When the officer went there v his soldiers he saw a very handsome youth sleeping, his head placed tenderly on the lap of the happy-looking LAVAŅYASUNDARI. Seeing him the police officer thought; 'It seems love prompts her to go with him. She has not been deceived. The bawd seems to be a liar. Let me wait till his sleep lasts. I will enquire when he gets up.' But as the police-officer delayed the king said:
“Why does the officer delay?”
"Sire, I have told you that he is a great cheat. He has cheated even the police officer," the bawd replied. The king then sent his vassals. (63) They heard the account from the police officer, thought him to be right and stayed on. “What is this, that they also delay"? the king queried. "Sire, they are also deceived by him, therefore please go yourself. But be careful, for he cheats all whom he sees". The king made due preparations and went himself.
When LAVAŅYASUNDARI saw the king, she awakened RATNADATTA and said: "RATNADATTA you told me that you can fight sixty-four men with a 'kaditalla' standing, thirty-two men sitting and sixteen men lying down. Now is the time. I did not wake
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