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CHAPTER SEVEN
suppressing your order. I burned down old elephant stables near the harem, father. I do not carry out even your order without reflection.".
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The king said: "You are my son. You are intelligent, Abhaya, by whom the approaching guilt was sent far away."
The king favored Abhaya by the gift of a boon and went home, very eager for the sight of Queen Celaṇā. Then the king sported daily with Queen Celaṇa, as if with ever new affection, like Vṛṣākapi (Viṣṇu) with Sridevi.
One day the king thought: "Celaņā is very dear to me. What favor can I do her that distinguishes her from the other queens? I shall have a one-pillared palace made for her. Placed in it, she can play like a Khecari in a heavenly palace." After deciding on this plan, Śrenika instructed Abhaya: "Have a one-pillared palace made for Celaņā." Abhaya gave orders to a carpenter for bringing wood suitable for the pillar and the carpenter went to a forest for the timber. Looking at the trees in the forest one by one, the carpenter saw one tree marked with all the favorable marks. thought:
He
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Surely this tree with dense shade, lofty, blossoming, bearing fruit, with a large crown and with a large trunk is no ordinary one. Such an abode as it is, surely is not without a divinity. On the contrary, this king of trees by its very beauty evidently has a divinity. I shall worship its presiding divinity with penance, so there will be no calamity to me and my master because I cut it down."
Then the carpenter, observing a fast, put perfume, incense, wreaths, and other objects on the great tree with devotion. At that time the Vyantara, whose home was the tree, with the view of accomplishing his purpose and protecting his own home, said to Abhayakumāra:
"My home-tree must not be cut down. Stop the carpenter. I myself, sir, will build a one-pillared palace. I will make a garden, like Nandana, attached to it, adorned by all the seasons, filled with all kinds of vegetation."
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