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40
 
AVANTISUNDARIĪ KATHAĀ SAĀRA
 

 
found her unconscious. Not seeing the mother he brought

him to sage Vāmadeva and the latter sent him to king

Raājahamsa. He was brought up by the king with the sons

of Sumati and other ministers. Prince Raājavahana
āhana
started on a tour for the conquest of the regions, and

Puspodbhava accompanied the prince. When the latter

entered a cave, he wandered about the forest and is now at

the feet of his father and mother.'
 

 
(Av. Sāra VI. 41-46)
 

 
"My parents showered on me tears of joy. We

spent a happy day in the forest. As they could not get on

without money I performed certain rites and rituals which

enabled me to discover treasure-troves containing large sums

of money. At this juncture a band of robbers attacked a

merchant caravan passing through the forest. I entered

the fray, routed the robbers and made friend with one of

the members of the caravan. I loaded bullock carts with

bags of gold and set out for Ujjain with my friend and

parents. The father of my friend having heard about us

received me with filial affection and asked his daughter

Baālacandrikā to pay respects to my parents. As she did so,
the mellow moonlight of her beauty pervaded the whole

the mellow moonlight of her beauty pervaded the whole
apartment; and she, having stolen my heart, withdrew."
 

 
(Av. Sāra VI. 47-56)
 

 
"My friend who came to know that I was searching

after you, told me that he was an expert in the science
of prognostics and his divinations were favourable to me.

of prognostics and his divinations were favourable to me.
One day I went to a pleasant lake to amuse my love-

sick heart and heard a pitiable voice not far from me. I

hastened to the spot and found Baālacandrikā, the object of

my desire, attempting to kill herself by hanging. I cut the

noose and asked her the reason for her violence.
She

recognised me, and controlling her bashfulness said, 'Beloved

Sir, the festival of sporting in water has been stopped in

Ujjain since Vatsarāja carried away Vaāsavadattā, the

daughter of Mahaāsena, in the festival. But since princess

Avantisundariī longed for the revival of the festival, I went

to the king to intimate her desire, and there was seen by

Dāruṇavarman, the younger brother of Candṇḍavarman. And

he wants to marry me. My parents, for fear of his