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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI
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Candrayaśas embraced Nala's wife closely, as if to remove by solicitude her physical exhaustion arising from fatigue. Shedding tears, Vaidarbhi paid homage to the queen's feet, as if offering a price for her affection by cleansing her feet.
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Questioned by Candrayaśas, Who are you? Bhima's daughter told the same story as she had told before to the caravan-leader. Candrayaśas said to Vaidarbhi, Good lady, do you thrive in my house with happiness, just like Candravati.'
One day Queen Candrayaśas said to her daughter Candravati: This sister of yours resembles my niece Davadanti. (But) such an arrival any place is not possible for her. For she is the wife of Nala, who is the lord of us even She (lives) at a distance of one hundred and forty-four yojanas. How could she come and whence would there be such misfortune to her?"
Daily Queen Candrayaśas gave gifts to suitable persons, the poor, the protectorless, et cetera, according to their pleasure, outside the city. One day Vaidarbhī said to her, 'I shall distribute charity here in case my husband should return in the guise of a beggar.' From that time Davadanti distributed charity together with Candrayaśas according to custom, enduring bodily austerities with hope for her husband. Daily Bhaimi questioned the beggars one by one, 'Have you seen a man of such an appearance?'
One day while she was in the dispensary, she saw a thief being led by guards who had bound him, with a drum being played in front. Bhima's daughter asked the guards, What crime was committed by him that it has such a punishment as the death-penalty?' 'He stole the jewel-case of Queen Candravati. For that deed he must die,' the guards replied. The thief bowed to Vaidarbhi and said: 'I have been seen by your eye. How can I experience death? Be a protection for me, lady.' Davadanti had the guards come near and said to the thief, 'Do not fear. Doubtless you will have good fortune with your life.'
With these words, Bhima's daughter made a declaration
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