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eldest Bhimabhața surpassed the youngest in all accomplishments, and
rivalry in these increased the natural ill-feeling between them.
One day, as they were engaged in wrestling, Samarabhața, being jealous, struck Bhímabhața with his arm with great force on the neck. Then Bhímabhața was enraged, and immediately throwing his arms round Samarabhața, he lifted him up and flung him on the ground. The fall gave him a severe shock, and his servants took him up and carried him to his mother, discharging blood from all the apertures in his body. When she saw him, and found out what had taken place, she was alarmed on account of her love for him, and she placed her face close to his and wept bitterly. At that moment the king entered, and when he saw this sight, he was much troubled in mind, and asked Lásavatí what it meant, and she gave the following answer : " This son of mine has been reduced to this state by Bhímabhața. And he is always ill-treating him, but I have never told you, king; however now, that I have seen this, I must say, I cannot*[1] understand how your majesty can be safe with such a son as this, but let your majesty decide." When king Ugrabhața was thus appealed to by his favourite wife, he was angry,and banished Bhímabhața from his court. And he took away from him his allowance, and appointed a hundred Rajputs with their retainers to guard that Samarabhața. And he put his treasury at the disposal of the younger son, but he drove the elder son from his presence, and took away all that be possessed.
Then his mother Manoramá sent for him and said, " Your father has thrown you over, because he is in love with a dancer. So go to the palace of my father in Páțaliputra, and when you arrive there, your grandfather will give you his kingdom, for he has no son. But, if you remain here, your enemy, this Samarabhața, will kill you, for he is powerful." When Bhímabhața heard this speech of his mother's, he said, " I am a kshatriya, and I will not sneak away from my native land, like a coward. Be of good cheer, mother ! what wretch is able to injure me ?" When he said this, his mother answered him, " Then procure a numerous body of companions to guard you, by means of my wealth." When Bhímabhața heard this proposal, he said, " Mother, this is not becoming; for if I did this, I should be really opposing my father." You may be quite at your ease, for your blessing alone will procure me good fortune." When Bhímabhața had encouraged her with these words, he left her. In the meanwhile all the citizens came to hear of it, and they thought, " Alas ! a great injustice has been done to Bhímabhața by the king. Surely Samarabhața does not think he is going to rob him of the kingdom. Well it is an opportunity for us to do him a service, before he comes to the throne." Having formed this resolution, the citizens secretly supplied Bhímabhața with such abun-
- ↑ * The Sanskrit College MS. reads na for tu.
