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DURGESA NANDINI.
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A woman then lived in Garmandaran, who pined for her absent husband, a follower of Jayadhara Singha. She was uncommonly beautiful. Her husband was a soldier in the army of the Emperor, and was long away from home. The woman fell in love with Sasi Shekhara; in a short time, she conceived.

Fire and sin cannot he hid long; the misdeed of Sasi Shekhara reached the ears of his father. With the view of removing the stain cast by his son on the race of another, the father of Sasi Sekhara wrote to the husband of the woman and hastily called him home. He reprimanded his backsliding son severely. Thus disgraced by his parent, Sasi Sekhara left his country.

He went to Benares. There, hearing of the fame of a dandi,[1] who was extraordinarily learned, he began to receive lessons from him. Possessed of an acute intellect, he became proficient in the darsanas,[2] and attained the highest excellence in astrology. The tutor taught him with the greatest delight.

Sasi Sekhara had put up at the house of a Sudra woman. She had a blooming daughter. From veneration for a Brahmin the young lady arranged things for his cooking, &c. It is the duty of the child to throw the veil over the shame of the parent. What more shall I say? The Sudra girl gave birth to this wretch of a woman.

On coming to know this, the teacher said to his pupil, "My boy, I don't teach wrong-doers. Don't show your face in Benares any more."

Sasi Sekhara left Benares for shame.

My grand-father turned my mother out of his house, as a fallen woman.

  1. A devotee worshipping Siva.
  2. Hindu Philosophical Systems.