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BRAHMADATTACAKRIČARITA
329
"Whoever, with the mark of the śrivatsa covered with a cloth shall eat in your house, to him must be given your daughter.'' Brahmadatta's marriage to her took place at that time. Unexpected pleasures appear freely to those men devoted to pleasure. After passing the night and consoling Bandhumati, the prince went elsewhere. How can people with enemies stay in one place? They reached a border-village and there they heard, "Dirgha has blocked all roads on account of Brahmadatta." They went forward by a side road and fell into a large forest obstructed by wild animals as well as cruel men of Dirgha. Then Varadhanu left the prince, who was thirsty, under a banyan tree and went for water with speed equal to the mind. Then Varadhanu was surrounded by Dirgha's men, enraged, who had perceived him, like a young boar surrounded by dogs. He was captured and bound by them saying a terrifying thing: "Seize him! Seize him! Bind him! Bind him!" He gave a signal to Brahmadatta, "Escape," and the prince fled. Certainly heroism (should be) at the right time.
Then Brahman's son went quickly from that large forest to another large forest, like a hermit from one hermitage to another. Living there on food of fruit of bad-flavor and no flavor, on the third day he saw an ascetic before him. 'Where is your hermitage, Blessed One?" he asked and was conducted by the ascetic to his hermitage. For guests are dear to ascetics. Then he saw the abbot and joyfully paid homage to him like a father. The heart is the criterion even in an unknown matter. The abbot said, "Son, what is the reason for you, whose appearance is very delicate, coming here like a tree of heaven to Meru?"
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Then Brahman's son confided his adventures to the mahātma. Generally nothing must be concealed from such men. Then the abbot, delighted, said, stammering: "I am your father's younger brother, like one soul made into two. So you have come to your own house. Remain at your pleasure, son. Thrive from our penance along with our wishes." Causing keen joy to the people's eyes, dear to everyone, he
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