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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI
117
I am happy. We have been won by your aid in protection from the robbers. So purify my camp, that a little may be done for you. With these words the caravan-leader led Bhaimi to his own tent and made her rest, worshipping her like a goddess. Then the cloud rained an unbroken stream, spreading a loud thunder like a prologue to the play of the rainy season. The earth became everywhere like a garden with canals because of the streams of water flowing without interruptions here and there. The earth nearby seemed to be made of playing flutes and drums from the croaks of the frogs from the natural pools filled with water. Everywhere in the forest the mud, fulfilling the pregnancy-whims of the sows, created boots on the feet of travelers. For three nights there was heavy rain without interruption. Bhaimi stayed there comfortably as if she had reached her father's house.
When the cloud had stopped raining, Davadanti, virtuous, left the caravan and again went on alone as before. As Bhima's daughter, a faithful wife, had engaged in fasts of one day, et cetera from the day of Nala's banishment, she traveled the road slowly, slowly. She saw a Rakṣas with tawny hair like a peak with a forest-fire burning, his mouth terrible with the flame of his tongue like a cruel snake, with hands cruel as knives, with emaciated feet as long as palm trees, black as the darkness of amāvāsyā as if made of collyrum, wearing a tigerskin as a garment, terrible even to the terrible, like a son of Yama (Pitṛpati).
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The Rākṣasa said: After a long time food is at hand for me lean-bellied from hunger. I shall eat you quickly. Though terrified, Nala's wife gathered resolution and said: 'Hear my story and do as you please. Certainly every one born must die. Let the one whose purpose is unaccomplished be afraid of death. But there is no fear of death on my part, a devout Jain from birth, my purpose accomplished. Do not touch another man's wife. Even if you touch me, you will have no pleasure in it because of my curse, fool. I am such a person. Consider for a moment.
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