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MARRIAGE OF KRŞŅA WITH RUKMIŅI AND OTHERS 207 to the ground by it playing the part of a high-spirited horse. Then, laughed at by the people, he mounted a goat 203 and went to Vāsudeva's house, making even the councilors laugh.
Pradyumna then became a Brāhman reciting the Veda with a low pleasing sound and entered Dvārikā and roamed all over it, at junctions of three streets, et cetera. He saw a hunchbacked slave-girl of Bhāmā and by his magic art quickly made her as straight as a reed on the road. She fell at his feet and said, “Where are you going?” and Pradyumna replied, “ Where I can get food by a wish.” She said: “Come! I shall give you cakes, et cetera, whatever you like, prepared in Queen Bhāmā's house for her son's wedding.”
Pradyumna went with her to Bhāmā's house. The slavegirl left him at the festooned door and went into Bhāmā's presence. Bhāmā asked, “Who are you?” and the slave-girl replied, “I am the hunchback.” “Who made you straight ? " The slave-girl told the story of the Brāhman and Bhāmā said, “Where is the Brāhman now?” She said, “I left him now at the festooned door.” Instructed by Bhāmā, “Bring the mahātma here," the slave-girl quickly brought the fictitious Brāhman there.
After he had bestowed a blessing and had been seated, Satyabhāmā said to him, “Brāhman, make me more beautiful than my co-wife, Rukmiņi.” The false Brāhman said, “ You appear very beautiful. I do not see any where such beauty of other women." Satyabhāmā said: "Sir, this is a good thing that you say. Nevertheless, make me especially unequaled in beauty." He said: "In that case, become completely devoid of beauty. A high degree of beauty will result, if there is a complete absence of beauty in the first place.” Asked, "What shall I do? " the Brāhman instructed her: “ Shave your head and smear your whole body with lampblack. Dressed in old tattered clothes, go ahead of me that I may bestow a wealth
203 424. Edaka is given in Abhi. 4.342 as sheep,.' but he was more likely to ride a goat. Cf. IV, n. 117,
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