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48
 
AVANTISUNDARI KATHA SARA
 
in battle is now performing penance. His son will become
an emperor and he will now take your daughter in marriage.'
The king in amazement sent for the queen and the princess.
Then there appeared a magic princess, the very image
of princess Avantisundari. Then the real Rājavāhana, in
his wedding apparel, escorted by the magic ministers of
Manasāra, was introduced to the king as the bridegroom. As
desired by the prince, Agniratha arrived in a vimana with
Rājahamsa, Vasumati and the sage Vamadeva. The king
gladly received the guests and the prince bowed to his parents
and the sage.
 
(Av. Sāra VII. 57-65)
 
The sage began the ceremony by a description of the
lineage of the princess and requested the prince to accept her
hand in marriage, while the magic Mānasāra poured water in
to the right hand of the bridegroom. Somadatta, the purohit,
kindled the sacred fire, went through the ritual, and solemnised
the marriage. Meanwhile the bridegroom slipped into the
privacy of the inner chamber. Rājahamsa and the sage left
the scene and Puşbodbhava took Vidyeśvara and Somadatta
to his house. The prince had a pleasant night with his
beloved; he beguiled her by showing the starry sky and
relating interesting stories of the world. Somadatta,
summoned by his father-in-law, left Ujjain for Pâriyâtra
with his wife and Puşpodbhava.
 
(Av. Sāra VII. 66-79)
 
After a blissful slumber Räjavāhana woke up but found
his feet fettered with a chain. In her excitement the
princess cried aloud and the guards who heard the cry
took the matter to the regent. Candavarman was all in a
fury. He had an ancient grudge against Puspodbhava for
killing his brother. He now resolved to avenge himself by
putting to death Rājavāhana, the friend of Puspodbhava.
Now the old king Manasära and his queen prevented the
tragedy by threatening the regent, by the alternative of their
suicide. Candavarman therefore sent a report of the
matter to Darpasāra, son of Mänasāra, and set out with
the prince, in fetters, to destroy Simhavarman, the king of
the Angas, who had refused his request for his daughter's
hand. He surrounded Champa, the capital, with a large army,
took the king a prisoner and carried away his daughter to his