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MARRIAGES OF SAMBA AND PRADYUMNA 219 enquiring about her, she told Satyabhāmā about her at once and Bhāmā asked Jitaśatru for her for Bhiru through a messenger.
Jitaśatru said: “I will give the girl at that time, if Bhāmā takes her by the hand and enters Dvārakā. Furthermore, if Bhāmā puts her (the girl's) hand over Bhiru's hand at the time of the wedding, then my daughter may be Bhīru's.” So informed, the messenger went and reported it to Bhāmā. Saying, “ Very well,” Bhāmā went quickly to his camp, seeking her. Śāmba said to Prajñapti: “Have Bhāmā and her people see a girl and other people see just me, Sāmba.” This being done by Prajñapti, Prince Sāmba entered Dvārakā, his right hand held by Bhāmā. Sāmba was led by Bhāmā to Bhiru's marriage-festival and the townswomen said: "Oh, this is strange! This is strange!” Samba went to Bhāmā's house and, deceitful-minded, took Bhīru's right hand with his left hand placed over it.
Having taken with his right hand the hands of the ninetynine girls, he circled the fire at the same time according to rule. The girls, looking at Śāmba said, “You, equal to Rati's husband, have been joined with us as a husband by the Creator because of the maturing of our merit.” When the marriage with these girls had been concluded, Sāmba went to the marriage-chamber. When Bhiru went there, he was terrified by Šāmba by a frown and went away. He went and told Bhāmā and she, incredulous, went there herself and saw Śāmba. Śāmba bowed to her. She said angrily, “ By whom were you brought here, impudent villain ?” He said: “I was brought here and made to marry the girls by you. All the people of Dvārakā, spectators, are authority for this.”
Told this, she asked the townspeople who had come there. They said: “Do not be angry, queen. Sāmba was made to enter (the city) by you. While we were actually looking, he was made to marry the girls.” Saying, “You, a cheat, the son of a cheat, the younger brother of a cheat, borne by a cheat, tricked me in the form of a girl," she went away angrily.
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