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SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
 
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displeasure, have consented to give me in marriage to him,
but I prefer giving myself to death.'
 
(Av. Sāra VI. 57-67)
 
Don't be rash, fair one,' said I. We shall have
the man done to death by a device. Let your trustworthy
friend tell the public through your parents that Bala-
candrikā is possessed of an evil spirit and that the spirit
will kill her husband if he is not of the same caste and status.
If, on hearing this, the ruffian keeps away, so much the better.
If not, let the same friend say that you should be taken to his
palace, lest the spirit should attack your relations also in your
house. If he takes you to his palace, I shall go with you
disguised as a maidservant and kill him in secret.' Her
friend did everything as instructed. In spite of the gossip,
the stupid Daruṇavarman, blind with passion, persisted, and
her father took her to his palace. I accompanied her,
dressed as a maidservant, and entered the chamber of
Dāruṇavarman, struck him to death. When it was announced
that Dāruṇavarman who attempted to defile a virgin was
killed by an evil spirit, the father of Balacandrikā gave her to
me in marriage with pleasure. And this incident has been a
precursor to the abundant happiness that I now enjoy on
seeing Your Majesty."
(Av. Sāra VI. 68-76)
 
Princess Avantisundari
 
Having listened to the story, the prince exclaimed,
Fortunately, we have seen our parents," and at that
moment, the parents of Puşpodbhava and Balacandrikā also
came there. The prince paid his respects to them. Then
they all started in a car and entered the city. Rāja vāhana
put up in the beautiful residence of Ratnodbhava and des-
patched men in search of the other companions. After a
few days, Puşpodbhava told the prince that princess Avanti-
sundarī had arranged to celebrate the water festival and
asked his wife to attend the function along with him. They
say the princess is very beautiful. Is it so'?, enquired the
prince. She is of wondrous beauty' replied Balacandrikā.
None else is so beautiful as she.' Puspodbhava asking his
wife to draw a likeness of the princess, she said it was not
possible to bring out her beauty in a picture. Then the prince
drew from memory a portrait of the virgin Yajñavati. And
Puşpodbhava was astonished to find that it was the portrait
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