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CHAPTER ELEVEN
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unconfined and disheveled and their heads bereft of parasols, they too arrived in the city Ujjayini, following the king. "This is a trick of Abhaya's, no one else. We do not do such things." So, by an oath, they convinced the king of Ujjayini. On one occasion, the lord of Avanti, out of patience, said in the assembly, Whoever binds and delivers Abhaya to me, what will he obtain?" Thereupon a certain courtesan raised her hand like a banner and announced to the king of Avanti, "I here am sufficient for the task," and the king of Avanti commanded her: "If that is so, then do it. I shall give you money, et cetera to assist you. Tell me now what you need." She reflected, "Since Abhaya is not to be taken by other means, I shall accomplish my purpose by adopting the disguise of religion." Then she asked for two mature women, whom the king supplied at once together with much money. Showing zeal, daily worshipping, self-controlled, the three became very famous, (as) having great wisdom.
Then the three went to the city adorned by Śreņika, incarnations of guile, as it were, to deceive the three worlds. The best of courtesans took up her residence in the garden outside (the city) and went to the city with the intention of worshipping the images in succession. After they had said naisedhaki three times, she and the other two women entered the temple erected by the king, with superlative magnificence. After she had performed a pūjā, she began to pay homage to the god in a song united with melodies, Malava and Kausiki, et cetera. Abhayakumāra, too, went there, wishing to worship the god, and saw her ahead, worshipping with the two others. "I must not, by entering, create an obstacle to her seeing the god." Thinking thus, Abhaya stopped just at the door and did not enter the shrine..
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When she arose after she had prayed and sung a hymn of praise with her hands in the pearl-oyster position,209 then
209 146. In this position the palms of the hands are put together and raised to the forehead.
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