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TWELFTH INCARNATION AS SĀNTI 333 again and again the charm called 'union of Kāma and Rati.' · Kesarā's maternal uncle's daughter, Madirā, a resident of Sankhapura, came there, invited to the weddingprocession. Seating herself before him,875 sighing a little, she said, 'Kesarā, why are you troubled about the success of matters subject to fate? I, living in Sankhapura, heard about your wished-for meeting with Vasantadeva, fair lady. I know from my own experience the pain of separation from a sweetheart. Therefore, I shall tell you to console you, friend. Just as an unfavorable fate does something undesired, so a favorable fate does something desired from force of circumstances. Moreover, friend, you are fortunate who had the sight of and conversation with your sweetheart, et cetera, many times. Hear my miserable story difficult to hear, friend. I went with attendants to the festival of Sankhapala. There beneath an aśoka I saw a young man, a thief of the wealth of the mind, like Manmatha before my eyes. I sent him betel by the hand of a friend. I was sayed by him from a rogue-elephant like death. Again my attendants and I have been terrified by fear of the elephant. Again running away, I did not see him who had gone away somewhere. From that time I have scarcely lived, miserable, a receptacle of unhappiness all the time, like a monkey stung by a bee. Up to today I have seen him, charming, only in a dream. If he will be visible in person by the favor of fate! I have told my secret to diminish your pain. For one in pain is consoled, seeing someone else in pain. Enough of that pain, friend. For destiny itself being favorable, there will be a meeting with your sweetheart. Be of good courage, faint-hearted girl.'
Then Kāmapala took off the veil and said: 'I am the one, your sweetheart, whom you saw earlier at the Yakşa's
376 510. Kāmapāla.
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