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THE WAY OF LIFE
worth to pursue Dharma. But Kadamba never cared for Dharma. She was a beggar seeking worldly pleasures from the goddess of fortune. QUEEN KADAMBA'S ALLEGATION AGAINST LILAVATI
When Kadamba heard that Lilavati's fever was cured on account of the efficacy of the Chief Minister's shawl, a terrible thought rose in her mind. She went straight to the King, with a grave face, She said, "Your Highness, I have come to inform you of a very serious matter. Probably, you may not believe my words. Whether you believe my words or not, it is my duty to tell you about it." The King said, "What is the matter which is so serious ? Come on, tell me". Kadamba said, "Please do not get angry with me. But do you know that Queen Lilavathi is in love with the Chief Minister?” On hearing this terrible allegation against Lilavati, the King became furious and said, “You are making a false allegation. What proof have you in support of this allegation of yours?” Kadamba gave a cool reply, "I knew that you would consider my words untrue. But my dear Lord, I have proof with me. If I did not have a tangible proof with me, I would not have told you of this at all. You yourself can go now and see. Your darling queen is sleeping happily, wrapping herself with her lover's garment, out of love for him. You can personally go and see it. What greater proof of love than this can be there ?"
THE KING BELIEVES THAT LILAVATI IS GUILTY
Either Queen Lilavati or her attendant had not informed the King the matter relating to the garment which the Queen used to get rid of her fever. Such mistakes occur when we do things in a hurry. The King said to Kadamba, "All right, I will personally go there and see". Kadamba returned to her chambers. She went away after creating a cyclone in the King's mind. The King thought of the Queen and Pethad Shah. He had faith in the Queen Lilavati as well as in Pethad Shah. He knew that they possessed noble character, but the words of Kadamba had created a suspicion in the mind of the King. "We cannot say when mistakes occur in the lives of human beings. We cannot
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