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CHAPTER NINE
bracelets. Her friends said to her:
"Do not be so depressed, friend. What (kind of) union would there have been with him, or what business of you with him? Without affection, without desire, averse to association with people, always afraid of householding, like a wild creature of a house, discourteous, cruel, self-willed hostile-if he has gone, let him go. It is a good thing that Nemi is known now. If he had married you, he would be thus indifferent. Having thrown you in a well, then your rope would be cut. There are many other Yadu princes with good qualities, Pradyumna, Samba, et cetera. Among them there may be an agreeable husband. You were given to Nemi only in intention, fair lady. You are now still a maiden from the failure of the marriage with him, innocent girl."
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Rājimati said angrily: 'Friends, why is this said, resembling the family of an unchaste woman, for the disgrace of my family? Nemi is the best husband in three worlds. Who else is such a husband? Or, suppose there is such. What of him? Surely, a maiden is given once for all. Vṛṣṇi's son was chosen by me in heart and speech. He agreed to me as a wife at the importunity of the elders. Now, he, the best husband in three worlds, did not marry me. Enough of pleasures, indeed, the causes of worthlessness by nature. If I was not touched by his hand in the marriage-ceremony, his hand alone shall touch me in order to give the vow."
Making a vow to this effect, having sent away her friends, Ugrasena's daughter passed the time, meditating on Nemi.
Now the Blessed Nemi gave gifts day after day and Samudra and the others wept like children in pain. The Blessed One knew Rājimati's vow from the people and from his three kinds of knowledge; nevertheless, he remained indifferent. The Teacher of the World gave unceasing gifts for a year; and the chief-gods, Sakra and others, held the initiation-ceremony. Śiva's son got into the jeweled palanquin, named Uttarakuru, carried by gods and kings. Śakra and Iśāna carried chauris in front of the Lord; Sanatkumāra the
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