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SAMBHAVAJINACARITRA
241
his ears reaching his shoulders, bull-shouldered, long-armed, broad-chested, lean-bellied like a lion, his thighs resembling an elephant's trunk, his legs like a deer's, his ankles small, his feet arched and smooth-soled like the back of a tortoise, his fingers straight, his body-hair separated, grown out, dark, soft, sleek, his breath perfumed like a lotus, always free from impurities, so favored in his body by nature, the Lord of the World shone exceedingly with youth, like the full moon with autumn.
His marriage (233–241) One day, the Lord was urged by his parents, because of their unsatisfied desire for the festival, to marry kings' daughters resembling daughters of the gods. Knowing that he had karma with pleasure as its fruit and observing his father's command, he, noble-minded, consented to marry the maidens. King Jitāri and Sakra, who had come in person, had Sambhava Svāmin celebrate a marriagefestival with the maidens, at which Hāhā and Hūhū sing with sweet sounds; Gandharvas beat drums, etc. with deep tones; Apsarases, Rambhā, Tilottamā, etc., dance ; well-born women recite aloud auspicious songs. Sometimes in rows of gardens resembling the garden Nandana ; sometimes on pleasure-mountains equal to the peak of Mt. Ratna ; sometimes in pleasure-ponds like tanks of nectar ; sometimes in picture-galleries resembling heavenly palaces, Sri Sambhava Svāmin sported with young women charming from intelligence by the thousand, like an elephant with female elephants. Enjoying manifold pleasures, as prince the Supreme Lord passed fifteen lacs of pūrvas.
Becomes king (242–251) Then the King, disgusted with existence, after persuading Sambhava Svāmin to consent, established him in the kingdom like a choice jewel in a finger-ring. King Jitāri himself accomplished his own desire by taking mendicancy at the lotus-feet of a good teacher. After
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