Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 5

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 57

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CHAPTER ONE
Now Jitaśatru was king in the city Janananda and his chief-queen was Dhariņi, wearing good conduct. Ratnavati fell from heaven and descended into her womb. When the time was completed, she bore a daughter, named Pritimati. She grew up gradually and acquired all the arts, and reached full youth, the life-restorer of Smara. Even a learned man became ignorant before her exceedingly learned in the arts. So her eye did not become at all enamored of any one. Her father thought, "If I marry her, learned as she is, to just any husband whatever, she will die. '
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After these reflections, he asked her privately, "Daughter, whom have you considered as a husband?" She replied, "Whoever surpasses me in the arts, let him be my husband." The king agreed to this and the promise became widely known. Kings and princes practiced the arts assiduously.
One day King Jitaśatru had platforms built outside and summoned kings and princes to a svayamvara. Kings, earthdwellers and sky-dwellers, came with princes, with the sole exception of Harinandin grieved by the separation from his son. They seated themselves on the platforms like gods in palaces. By chance Aparajita came there in his roaming. He said to Vimalabodha: "We have come at the right time. We shall see the examination in arts of the experts and we shall see the girl. We must see that no acquaintance recognizes us.
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Along with him (Vimalabodha), he assumed a very commonplace appearance by means of a pill. They both went to the svyamvara-pavilion, like gods assuming fictitious figures for amusement. Pritimati came there like another goddess Lakṣmi, wearing priceless clothing like a goddess come to earth, fanned by chauris, surrounded by friends and slave-girls, the people in front being driven back by the body-guards and door-keepers.
A friend of hers, Malati, pointed with her finger and said: "These men, earth-dwellers and sky-dwellers, have come here, thinking themselves superior. That is the King of