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CHAPTER FOUR
materials for a pūjā. For carelessness in their own duties is cause for fear on the part of servants.
Sagara went to his armory occupied by the cakra and shining with great splendor like a heavenly palace occupied by a god. The King bowed to the cakra-jewel equal to the sun, touching the ground with five parts of the body, merely at its sight. He rubbed it quickly with a woolen brush in his hand, like an elephant-driver a fine elephant when it has risen from sleep. He bathed the cakra like a statue of a god with pitchers of water delivered by men who kept bringing them. The King made tilakas of sandal on it, which resembled the beauty of his own hand given for the acceptance of the cakra. With variegated wreaths of flowers the King made the cakra-jewel a pūjā which resembled a conservatory of the Lakşmi of victory. The Cakrabhột threw perfume and fragrant powdered sandal on the cakra, like an ācārya on a statue at the time of its dedication. The King adorned the cakra, like himself, with valuable clothes and ornaments suitable for gods. He drew the eight auspicious objects before it, like magic circles for attracting the Śrīs of victory of the eight quarters. Like a seventh season 287 the King made a present of five-colored flowers of perfect fragrance in front of it. The King burned incense of camphor and aloes before it, making an ointment of musk with smoke, as it were. After he had circumambulated it three times and had withdrawn some distance, the Cakrin bowed to the cakra, the ocean for the birth of the Sri of victory.288 The King made an eight-day festival to the cakra-jewel, as one does to a newly installed statue. A pājā-festival was made to the cakra by all the citizens with great magnificence, as if to a city- or village-deity. Then the King went to his abode, eager for the expedition of conquest in all directions, as if invited by the cakra.
287 23. There are 6 seasons in India. 288 25. See I, n. 89.
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