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CHAPTER ONE
Śrīvijaya's story (168–239)
Now, the Bala Acala, feeling disgust with existence from grief at Tripṛṣṭha's death, established Śrīvijaya in the kingdom and became a mendicant. Worshipped by kings, chosen as a husband by the Śri of victory, Śrīvijaya directed his ancestral kingdom.
One day, Amitatejas went to the city Potanapura, eager to see Sutārā and Śrīvijaya. He saw the town with banners, platforms, and arches, with an empire of joy created, like a palace in Anuttara. Astonished, seeing the royal family especially delighted, he descended there from the sky, like the sun to the ocean. Seeing him at a distance, King Śrīvijaya rose. Honor is suitable for any guest; how much more for such a guest. The brothers-in-law embraced each other; and the king and his sister embraced each other closely, pools of nectar of strong delight. The two sat on costly lion-thrones, like the sun and moon on the eastern and western mountains.
Then Amitatejas, clear-minded, asked him: "It is not the kaumudi-festival; 270 it is not the full moon-day of the month Agrahāyaṇa; 271 it is not summer; it is not spring; it is not the birth of a son to you, king. Because of what festival is the city seen to have joy springing forth?"
Then Śrīvijaya related: "On the eighth day before this, a certain astrologer, acquainted with the future, came here. I questioned him respectfully, 'Have you come here to ask for something or to tell something?' and he replied clearly: 'Even if we live only by alms, king, nevertheless it is not fitting to ask anything from you now. I have come here to tell what can not be told. When it has been told, the remedy would be by dharma, et cetera. On the seventh day from today at noon a resounding thunderbolt
270 176. A festival held on the full moon-day of the month Kārttika in honor of Kārttikeya.
271 176. Agrahāyaṇa is the name used in Bengal for the month Mārgasirṣa. In east India its full moon-day is a popular festival with informal celebration.
14B
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