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MARRIAGES OF VASUDEVA WITH MAIDENS 79 Mānasavega, Sauri threw him down before Somaśrī, but released him at the word of his mother-in-law, Angāravati. Attended by Mānasavega and other Khecaras who had become servants, accompanied by Somaśrī, he went to Mahāpura in an aerial car. There the scion of the Yadus amused himself with Somaśri.
One day he was kidnaped by the magician Sūrpaka, who had turned into a horse. Perceiving that, Sauri beat Sūrpaka with his fist and, dropped by Sūrpaka, fell into Jāhnavi's water. He swam out of the Gangā and went to a hermitage. There he saw a woman with a necklace of bones on her neck. The ascetics whom he questioned, related:
Rescue of Nandişeņā (578-588) “She is the wife of King Jitaśatru and daughter of Jarāsandha, named Nandişeņā. She was bewitched by a mendicant and he was killed by the king. Even now she, strongly bewitched, wears his bones.” Then by the power of a charm Sauri made her free from the witchcraft. Jitaśatru gave him his own daughter Ketumati.
Dimbha, Jarāsandha's door-keeper, went to the king and said, “ This benefactor, who saved Nandişeņā's life, should be summoned.” The king said, “That is fitting.” Sauri, put in a chariot by the door-keeper, went with him himself to the city of the lord of Magadha. There he was made a prisoner by guards and when he asked the reason for his arrest, they
said:
! “An astrologer predicted to Jarāsandha: 'Whoever shall cure your daughter, Nandişeņā, his son will surely be your slayer.' You are recognized. For that reason you are to be killed.”
With these words they led Yādava like an animal to the place of execution and the Muștikas 85 and others prepared to
85 585. Muștikās are defined by MW as a despised race (=Dombās) '; and Domba is defined as a man of low caste (living by singing and music).' But here a Mustika is obviously of a caste that acts as executioners,
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