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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI 97 had acquired merit by the gift of milk to a suitable person and they were born as twins in Haimavata with no difference in soul-color.110 They died free from painful and evil meditation 111 and were born as gods, Kșiraļiņdira and Kșiradiņdirā, husband and wife.
Nala and Davadanti (277–1077)
The god fell and became the son, Nala by name, by his wife, Sundarā, of King Nişadha, belonging to the Ikşvākufamily, in the city Kośalā in the country Kośala in this Bharata. He had a younger brother, Kūbara. Now, there is in the Vidarbhas a city named Kundina and its king was Bhimaratha, whose strength was terrible. He had a wife Puşpadanti, devoid of deceit, by whose great beauty the beauty of goddesses was threatened. Without obstructing wealth and religion, cherishing love unhindered, the king enjoyed pleasures with her.
One day Kșīriņdīrā fell from the abode of the gods and descended into her womb as a daughter on an auspicious day. Then comfortably asleep on a beautiful couch, she had a pleasant dream and related it to the king at daybreak: ‘Master, asleep. I know that a white elephant entered your house, impelled by a forest-fire, like a heap of glory made visible.' The king, learned in all the sciences, declared, 'Some embryo of exceeding merit has developed in your womb today.'
While the king and queen were talking so, a white elephant came, as if Abhramupriya (Airāvata) had fallen (from heaven). The elephant mounted the king and his wife immediately on his shoulder, for he was impelled by their merit. Being worshipped by the townsmen accompanied with throwing wreaths of flowers, after wandering through the city he returned to the palace and set them down. The best of elephants went
110 275. Leśya. See II, n. 267.
111 276. For the kinds of dhyāna, see 1, n. 8. 13N
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