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CHAPTÉR SEVEN She said, “By your favor. Do you not know what you have done yourself?” She told him the dream of a lion and Janārdana explained: “ Queen, you will have a son equal to Pradyumna.” With these words Vişņu went away.
At the right time Jāmbavati, like a lioness, bore a son named Sāmba, whose strength was unequaled. Dāruka and Jayasena, sons of the charioteer, and Subuddhi, son of the minister--these sons were born at the same time as Sāmba. And there was a son of Satyabhāmā, Anubhānuka by name, who had another name, Bhiru, as a result of the impregnation. Sons were born of the other wives of Govinda, very strong, very heroic, like young bhadra-elephants.205 Sāmba grew up with the sons of the minister and charioteer and, intelligent, gradually acquired the collection of arts easily.
Marriage of Pradyumna (38–85) One day Rukmiņi sent a man to Bhojakața to arrange a marriage of Vaidarbhi, Rukmin's daughter, with Pradyumna. He bowed and said to Rukmin: “Queen Rukmiņi says to you:
Give your daughter, Vaidarbhi, to Pradyumna. In the past there was a suitable union of Vişņu and me by fate. Now do you arrange a union of Pradyumna and Vaidarbhī."" Recalling their former enmity, Rukmin said: “I will give my daughter to candālas rather than Vişnu's family.” The messenger went and reported that to Rukmiņi word for word.
Insulted by her brother, she remained downcast like a day-lotus at night. “Why are you so troubled ?” asked by Pradyumna, she told the story of Rukmin, the cause of the arrow in her heart. Pradyumna said: “ Mother, do not grieve. Indeed, uncle is not deserving of conciliation. At that time father did what was fitting. After arranging what is fitting for him, I will marry his daughter." With these words, he jumped up and went to Bhojakața with Śāmba.
Both assumed the forms of caņdālas and the voices of
205. 36. The best kind of elephant. See I, n. 128.
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