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11, 8.
THE GENERAL GRIEF OF THE PALACE.
83
dwells he now?' Kandaka, then, with sorrowful heart, replied to the people and said: 580
'I with loving purpose followed after him whom I loved ; 'tis not I who have deserted the prince, but by him have I been sent away; (by him) who now has given up his ordinary adornments, 581
"And with shaven head and religious garb, has entered the sorrow-giving grove.' Then the men hearing that he had become an ascetic, were oppressed with thoughts of wondrous boding (unusual thoughts); 582
They sighed with heaviness and wept, and as their tears coursed down their cheeks, they spake thus one to the other : What then shall we do (by way of expedient)?' 583
Then they all exclaimed at once, 'Let us haste after him in pursuit; for as when a man's bodily functions fail, his frame dies and his spirit flees, 584
So is the prince our life, and he our life gone, how shall we survive? This city, perfected with slopes and woods; those woods, that cover the slopes of the city, 585
'All deprived of grace, ye lie as Bharata when killed !' Then the men and women within the town, vainly supposing the prince had come back, 586
In haste rushed out to the heads of the way, and seeing the horse returning alone, not knowing whether he (the prince) was safe or lost, began to weep and to raise every piteous sound; 587
(And said, 'Behold!) Kandaka advancing slowly with the horse, comes back with sighs and tears; surely he grieves because the prince is lost.' And thus sorrow is added to sorrow! 588 Then like a captive warrior is drawn before the
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