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CHAPTER SIX of beauty and grace on you.” She did that, industriously.
The Brāhman said, “I am suffering from hunger. What can I do, if I am miserable? ” Bhāmā gave the cooks orders to feed him and the Brāhman gave instructions in Bhāmā's hearing, “ You must mutter the charm, “Rudu, budu, rudu, budu,' before family-goddesses, until I finish eating, innocent lady.” She kept on doing this; and the rogue of a Brāhman continued to eat and got all the best food by the power of his magic arts. He was finally told by the cooks, who were afraid of Bhāmā and who held water-vessels, “ Get up!” The false Brāhman went away, saying, “I have not been satisfied today. I shall go where I will be satisfied.”
Then, he assumed the form of a young sādhu and went to Rukmiņi's house. Rukmiņi saw him, a moon for the pleasure of her eyes, from a distance. Rukmiņi went inside the house to get him a seat and he sat down on Kțşņa's lion-throne set in the east. Queen Rukmiņi returned with a seat, saw him seated like that and, wide-eyed with astonishment, said, “The gods do not allow any man to sit on this lion-throne except Krşņa or Krşņa's offspring.” The false sādhu said, “Because of the power of my penance the gods do not have sufficient power to do anything.” She asked, “Whence and why have you come ? ” and he replied:
“For sixteen years I practiced penance without food. I did not drink even mother's milk from birth. I have come here to break the fast. Give something suitable.” Rukmiņi said: “Nowhere has a fast of sixteen years been heard of. A fast up to a year, beginning with a one-day fast, has been heard of, muni.” He said: “What is the use of this on your part? If you have anything and if you intend to give, then give it. If not, I shall go to Satyabhāmā's house.” She said, “I have cooked nothing today from excitement.” He asked, “What is the reason for your excitement?”
She explained: “I have worshipped the family-deities for so long at the separation from my son, with the hope of a reunion. Now as I struck my neck with the intention of giving
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