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SIXTH INCARNATION AS APARĀJITA
233 At the proper time the queen bore her son, a festival for the eye, dark as the petal of a blue lotus, like the sky bearing a rain-cloud. The king gave the name Anantavīrya to Anuddharā's son, who had great power, at a great festival.
Their childhood (31-36) He grew up slowly, slowly, going from lap to lap of the nurses, like a harsa from lotus to lotus, day and night. Growing up gradually, he played with his elder brother like a contemporary, having a charming appearance, watched by women. The two brothers, with their fair and dark bodies looked like autumn- and rainy seasonclouds that had met in one place. They learned all the sciences with ease; for knowledge comes of its own accord to such persons from former births. They did study the sciences in the teacher's presence, so that their acquisition of knowledge provided a living for the teacher. Resembling an abode of Śrī, they reached youth, which is magic for attracting women, devoid of charms, spells, et cetera.
One day Muni Svayamprabha, endowed with various supernatural powers, came there and stopped in a certain garden. Now, King Stimitasāgara went outside the city to ride horses in equestrian sports, being expert in the sport. After he had ridden broken and unbroken horses, a Revanta 294 in equestrian sport, tired, he went to the grove. King Stimitasāgara, his eyes motionless from delight, entered the garden which was like Nandana brought to earth; which had a cloud reposing there, as it were, from the numerous young trees; which resembled a mountain-plateau pouring forth a cascade with its waterchannels; carrying fans for travelers, as it were, with plantain-leaves; paved with emeralds, as it were, with grassy ground everywhere; with a maid's duties performed by the winds carrying perfume from the cardamon, the clove, the kakkola, and the lavali, creating delight.
294 29. See I, n. 100.
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