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MARRIAGE OF KRŞŅA WITH 'RUKMIŅI AND OTHERS 205 me as you like without fear.” Thinking, "I have fallen into a woman's clutches,” he said, “How shall I save my life from Saṁvara and your sons?” She said: “ Fortunate man, do not fear. Take both magic arts, Gauri and Prajñapti. Be an invincible king.” Determined in his heart, “I will not do this improper thing,” Kșşņa's son said, “Give me the magic arts. I shall do as you say.'
Distracted by love, she gave him the magic arts, Prajñapti and Gauri. Pradyumna subdued them quickly from the power of matured merit. Asked by her to dally, Kṛṣṇa's son said: “ Before you were only my mother from rearing me. Now you are my teacher from giving me the magic arts, blameless lady. You must not even mention this wicked act to me.” With these words Pradyumna left her, went outside the city and, distressed in mind, stood on the edge of the tank Kālāmbukā.
Kanakamālā scratched herself with her nails and made an outcry. Her sons came, asking, “What's this?” “I have been scratched at will by that wretch of a son of your father, grown up, evil-minded, like one giving food scratched by a cat.” Then they all went to the edge of Kālāmbūkā in a rage and quickly attacked Pradyumna, saying, “ Villain! Villain!” Pradyumna, who had great strength from the two magic arts, slew Samvara's sons easily, like a lion sambars. Angry at the staying of his sons, Samvara went to kill him and was defeated by Pradyumna by tricks produced by the magic arts. Pradyumna, remorseful, told Saṁvara the story of Kanakamālā in detail, beginning at the beginning. Sasyara, remorseful, made a pūjā to him.
At that time Rși Nārada came into Pradyumna's presence. Pradyumna honored him who was introduced by Prajñapti and told him Kanakamālā's story from the beginning. Then Nārada related the whole story which Jina Simandhara had told about Pradyumna and Rukmiņi.
“In the past 202 your mother made a bet with her co-wife,
202 406. See above, p. 187.
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