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CHAPTER THREE them on and resumed his own form. Then Bhima's daughter embraced her husband in his proper form--his whole body, like a creeper a tree. Bhima embraced lotus-eyed Nala, whom he met again at the door and installed him on his own lion-throne.
'You are our master. Everything is yours. Tell me what I shall do,' saying, Bhimaratha stood with folded hands like a door-keeper. Dadhiparņa bowed to Nala and said: 'You are our lord always. Pardon anything improper that was done to you from ignorance.
Just then Dhanadeva, the caravan-leader, very magnificent, came to see King Bhimaratha, carrying a present. Vaidarbhi had King Bhima show honor to the caravan-leader, a former benefactor, like his own brother. Řtuparņa, Candrayaśas, their daughter Candravati, and the Lord of Tāpasapura, Vasantaśrīśekhara, came there, summoned at her father's command by Davadanti, who was very eager, anointed by former benefits. Being greatly entertained by King Bhima constantly, they remained a month, delighted by ever new hospitality
One day when they were all present in Bhima's assembly, at dawn a god, by whom the sky was bathed in light, came from heaven. With folded hands, he said to Bhaimi: Remember in the past an abbot of ascetics; named Vimalamati, was enlightened by you. After death the abbot became I, a god in Saudharma, Spikesara by name, in the palace named Kesara. Though I had wrong-belief, I was established in Arhats' dharma by you. Because of that dharma, I became a god by your favor.' Saying this, the god rained seven crores of gold and departed, having shown his gratitude. : Vasanta, Dadhiparņa, Řtuparņa, Bhima, and other powerful kings installed Nala on the throne. At Nala's order the kings assembled their respective armies which, very large, crowded the earth. On an auspicious day Nala, whose power was unequaled, marched with the kings against his own Ayodhyā, wishing to seize the Lakşmi of the kingdom.
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