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CHAPTER SEVEN
An auspicious song was begun by Tumburu and others; musical instruments, drums, et cetera, were beaten by the gods; dancers, Rambhā, Urvasi, et cetera, danced; and various plays were produced by the Gandharvas. After the gods had consecrated Sanatkumāra in this way, they provided him with divine garments, ointments, ornaments, and wreaths. Kubera, delighted, had Sanatkumāra mount the elephant-jewel (decorated) with fragrant saffron and enter Hastināpura. After filling Hastinapura with wealth, like his own city, Kubera departed, dismissed by the cakravartin.
His consecration, the water-channel to the creeper of his sovereignty, was made by crowned kings and other vassals also. Because of his coronation-festival the city Hastināpura was exempted from fines, customs duties, entrance of soldiers, et cetera, for twelve years. The cakrin protected his subjects fittingly like a father, very magnificent like Sakra, and did not oppress them by taxes, et cetera. As there was no one his equal in power, so there was no one his equal in beauty in the three worlds.
At that time Sakra, seated on his lion-throne in Sudharmā, was having a play, named Saudāmini, presented. The god Sangama came there from Aiśānakalpa, extinguishing the splendor of all the gods by the brightness of his body, astonishing the gods present in the assembly by his beauty beyond criticism, surpassing the beauty of all. When he had gone, the gods asked Sakra, “What is the reason for his extraordinary splendor and beauty unparalled?” Sakra explained: “In a former birth he performed the penance ācāmāmlavardhamāna.262 Because of that this beauty and brilliance resulted." "Is there any one else in the three worlds like him?" asked again by the gods, the Indra of Saudharma said, “There
252 341. Ācāmāmla (or ācāmla) is dry food, such as rice, pulse, or flour-cake without ghi or dressing. See I, n. 324. Ācāmāmlavardha. māna is a series of fasts broken by such meals. The whole penance lasts 14 years, 3 months, and 20 days. See B., p. 106.
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