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bodies in a corner as if they are palm fruits." The Măkandi brothers were terribly frightened and spoke humbly, "Whatever the beloved of gods is pleased to order we shall carry out, obey all your instructions, commands and words. "Ratnadvipadevatā, thereupon conducted the young men to her palace, carefully removed all the gross material from their bodies, infused finer elements there and went on enjoying all sorts of pleasures with them. She fed them on nectar-like fruits.
The Devatā, however, was ordered by the lord of the salty ocean to go to the sea twenty one times to remove whatever grass, leaves or sticks or rubbish or any unclean material that might be seen there and dump it all in a remote corner. She therefore told the Makandi brothers that since she was put upon this job, they should stay only in the palace happily and comfortably. But i however they ever felt bored or lonely, they could walk around on the palace grounds, on the eastern side. The weather there would be pleasant and there are plentiful trees. The rivers there would softly murmur and peacocks would dance every where. There were all sorts of lakes and tanks and cool bowers and flower-beds where they could enjoy themselves. They might also go to the northern grove of trees where the autumn season would be most pleasant. The sārasa and chakravāka birds would fill the air with their pleasing sounds and in the night, the moon light would be white like kunda flowers. They should enjoy themselves in the wells that are there. In case they are tired of that type of pleasure, they could take themselves to the western side where the weather would be pleasant like spring and summer. There would be charming garlands of flowers, the mango trees would be in blossom and the tilaka and bakula trees would, as it were, open out their parasols above. The ocean would always be ready to greet them with the water in the form of pătala and Siri sa flowers or with the white Mallikā and Väsantika flowers that blossomed on its tidal waves. But she warned them that under no circumstances must they wander into the forest grove on the southern side where a huge serpent with its terrible venom had spread out its huge body. It emitted fire from its mouth and its eyes are full of fury, why, they
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