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CONQUEST OF BHARATAVARŞA BY SAGARA 159 day-blooming lotuses at evening. As he was walking slowly on the bank of the pool, pining with love, Sagara was addressed by a chamberlain, who came, bowed, and spoke with folded hands:
"O master, on Mt. Vaitāļhya in this same Bharatakşetra there is a city Gaganavallabha,816 a favorite of good fortune. In it there was a Vidyādhara-king, Sulocana, resembling Trilocanasakha (Kubera) in the city Alakā. There is a son of his, Sahasranayana, judicious; and this daughter, Sukeśa, a crest-jewel of all woman-kind. When she was born, she was described by an astrologer, 'She will be a woman-jewel, the chief-queen of a Cakravartin.' And now, again and again she has been demanded in marriage by Purnamegha, the King of Rathanūpura, who is in love with her. When her father did not give her to him, Pūrņamegha, thundering like a cloud, came to fight, wishing to seize her by violence. After fighting for a very long time, Pūrņamegha, powerful, sealed Sulocana's eyes in a long sleep.
Taking his sister like a miser his wealth, Sahasranayana came here with his retinue, noble sir. While she was playing in the pool here, she saw you. Love taught her a painful passion quickly. Perspiring as if distressed by heat, transfixed like a puppet, her hair erect as if afflicted by cold, her voice stumbling as if she had a cold, trembling as if terrified, colorless like a sick person, shedding tears as if plunged in grief, absorbed in indifference like a follower of yoga, she reached a state of collapse at once from the sight of you. Comfort her, O comforter of the world, that she may not perish."
While the chamberlain was saying this, Sahasranayana came there through the air and bowed to the Cakrin. After asking for permission, he led Cakrin Sagara to his own abode and delighted him by the gift of the womanjewel, Sukeśa. Then Sahasreksaņa and the Cakrin went in
316 319. See I, p. 175.
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