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94
Tales from Indian Mythology
"O Exalted One!" replied she, "I have no desire to be any. thing other than what I have been, and certainly not a goddess. Your happiness is my happiness, and therefore please tell me if you have ever felt uneasy on my account."
"Ahalya, I should not have spoken these words, I do not know how much I would have suffered, if I had no wife such as you. Without your devotion and services I would not have attained to my present spiritual stature, and Ahalya, believe me, you are greater than I am, because you have made my austerities and oblations possible. But I do not know how long we can live together happily and harmoniously. For I have a vague fear that soon someone may deprive me of your love and devotion. I do not know who it is going to be. It could be anybodyeven one of the Trimurthis. You are so beautiful, you see." He caressed her curls.
"Do not have such fears, my lord,” she said. "Nobody can separate us. For your faith in me and my love for you shall always keep us together."
"Ahalya, we can do nothing against the will of God, which seems to be all the more aggressive and formidable where wo. men are concerned. Oh, why were you born so pretty! You have always put my austerities to the severest test possible.”
"I do not seem to understand you this morning. I imagine your own intense love for me makes you fear the worst for me. But I am all right. It is getting late for your oblations. May I make the necessary arrangements? You had better feed the doves and deer in the mean time."
"As you command.” He smiled and stroked her softly on the cheeks. But suddenly her right eye throbbed ominously.
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