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EMANCIPATION OF AJITA SVĀMIN AND SAGARA
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cheeks, an ear-ornament for my ears, and a necklace on my neck.' Just as the gazelle-eyed woman was saying this and looking at it, a foot fell on the ground as if from friendship with the arm. Examining also the foot with an anklet, her face tearful, the lotus-faced woman said again, That is my husband's foot which was covered with oil, rubbed, washed, and anointed by me with my own hand for a long time. While she was speaking, a second arm fell from the sky in front of her, like a branch of a tree shaken by the wind. When she saw this arm with jeweled armlets and bracelets, with streaming eyes like a fountain in the form of a woman she said, 'This is the hand, clever in parting the hair, an ornament of the hair, the sportive engraver of various decorations of unguents on the face and body. Before her standing in the same place fell the second foot from the sky, and she said again, "That is my husband's foot, cherished by my lotushand, never weary of the couch of my lap, oh! oh!' Just then the head and trunk fell in the same place, shaking the earth together with her heart. Then she spoke :
'Oh! my husband has been killed by a strong, crafty enemy. Oh! I am killed, miserable woman that I am. This is my husband's very lotus-like face which I have adorned with ear-rings with extreme affection. This is my husband's noble heart, alas ! which is my sole dwellingplace, both inner and external. Oh! my lord, without you I am without a lord. Who will bring flowers from the garden Nandana and make ornaments for me? With whom shall I play the lute, seated on the same seat, going through the sky, at pleasure ? Who will support me like a lute on his lap, or who will spread out my hair on a couch? Whom shall I often provoke by the play of deep affection ? To whom like an aśoka-tree will a kick from me give joy ? 850 Oh! my dear, who now will anoint me
850 437. An aśoka is said to blossom from the kick of a beautiful
woman.
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