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Ch. 3: Ajja Chandana - Women's Liberation
mother alone, but the mother repeated, “Vasumati, evil men turn in to demons when they see helpless women. I will manage, but you should better run and save yourself. Go... Run!
“Before Vasumati realized what was happening, the Queen pulled out a hidden dagger and committed suicide. Evil men turn
into demons Vasumati ran back to her mother but the General
when they see pulled her away and said, “What an idiot! I would helpless women. have married your mother.” He tossed the Queen's body out of the chariot and drove away with Vasumati."
Sudharma, listening to this tale, was in a state of shock. "How terrible," he said. “I didn't know that Ajja Chandana had lived through such an ordeal.'
I continued. "Suddenly, the princess found herself an orphan. Lady luck had dealt her a terrible hand, but the brave princess kept her poise. She decided to face her fate as it came. The general was now a frightened man. The woman he wanted had committed suicide and he was left with a young girl. He wanted to get rid of Vasumati but did not know how. He was rattled by the Queen's death, and now lacked the nerve to kill the princess. His only option was to take her to the slave market in the city of Kaushambi – the capital of Vatsa and sell her off. He disguised himself as an ordinary farmer, and bought some dirty rags for Vasumati. The princess was now a pauper! The general brought Vasumati to Kaushambi. He would be in trouble if anyone recognized him or her, for he was now in the enemy territory.
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