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325
BRAHMADATTÁČÁKŘICARITA The minister reflected:
“ Let Culani behave improperly from her natüre às á woman. For good women are rare. That Dirgha destroys the realm with the treasury and harer, which were handed to him in trust from confidence (in him)—that is no crime on his part.310 So he would do something hostile to the prince. For evil people, like a cât, are not devoted to their supporter.”
After reflecting so, he instructed his son, Varadhanu, to make this known to Brahmadatta and to attend him constantly. When the affair had been disclosed by the minister's son, Brahman's son displayed anger gradually, like an elephant newly in rut. Then Brahmadátta, unable to endure his mother's wicked conduct, went to the women's quarters, taking with him à crow and a hen-cuckoo. There he said aloud, “ These two must be killed because of the mixing of castes. I will certainly kill any one else like these.” “I am the crow, you the cuckoo, is the meaning. He wishes to kill us," Dirgħa said. The queen säid, “Do not be afraid of a child's talk."
One time the prince brought à mrga-elephant 311 with a cow bhadra-elephant and spoke in like manner contemptuously, indicating killing. Hearing that, Dirgha said, “The child's speech has a meaning.” Culani replied, “ If so, what then?” One time Brahman's son tied a crane to a hañsi and said, “He 'mates with her. I do not tolerate such conduct of any one.” Dirgha said: “ Queen, listen to these words of your son, a child, which resemble a belching of smoke from a fire of anger that has sprung up inside. The prince, growing up, will certainly be a great obstacle to us, like a lion to two elephants. Look! Before the prince becomes of military age, even though a child, he must be uprooted like a poison-tree.”
Culani said, “How can ä soñi, supporter of a kingdom, be killed ? Even animals guard their offspring like their own
310 125. It was only what was to be expected. 311 132. The third kind of elephant. See I, n. 128.
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