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SANATKUMĀRACAKRICARITRA
187
footmen. He, whose magnificence was unequaled, held an eight-day festival there in honor of the images of the immortal Arbats, like Sakra in Nandīśvara.
Other marriages (286-295) One day, my father Candravega, crest-jewel of the Vidyadharas, said to Aryaputra respectfully: 'One day in the past I saw and questioned a certain muni whose power was unequaled, an ocean of knowledge, and he said, “The fourth cakrin, Sanatkumāra, will marry your hundred daughters, Bakulamati, et cetera.” By good fortune you came here, when I was occupied with the thought, “How is he to be met? How is he to be asked to marry these girls ?” Be gracious. Marry these hundred maidens, O lord. For the request of the great is not vain and the speech of sages is not vain.'
Your friend, the wishing-gem of beggars, when he had been requested thus by my father, married the hundred girls, myself and others. Your friend, surrounded by Vidyadharas, passed the time pleasantly, amusing himself sometimes with pleasing concerts, sometimes with excellent plays, now with choice stories, now by looking at paintings, at times with festivals of water-sports in divine pools, at times with the pastime of gathering flowers in rows of gardens, and with other sports. Because of sport your friend came here and you were met; and the wish of a cruel fate was frustrated.”
Return to Hastināpura (296-310) As Bakulamati said this, Sanatkumāra came from the pleasure-house like an elephant from a pool. Attended by Vidyadharas he went then to Mt. Vaitādhya with Mahendrasinha, like Indra to Sumeru. He passed the time, endowed with great magnificence. One day, Mahendrasinha made this suitable declaration to him: "Master, my mind rejoices very greatly at this magnificence of yours. Your parents are unhappy, grieved at separation from you,
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