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134 Therefore, my son, joy and success be thine, and may thy wife and thou ne'er be parted."

With these and other kindly words, the king again embraced his son, and suffered him to depart. So for a happy season Kuvalayaswa lived in his father's city, or in the country around, gladdened by the love of his fair bride; while she, too, lived in sweet harmony with his parents, by whom she was greatly beloved.

Then, in time, it came to pass that Satrujit again said to his son, "Go forth, my son, on thy noble steed, to patrol the earth, and rescue the saints in their hermitages from the assaults of the base Danavas who go about in hundreds to hamper holy men. So Kuvalayaswa went forth and patrolled the earth, as his father bade him, in defence of the saints.

Now among these Danavas was one Talaketu, brother to him whom the prince had overthrown. This wily fiend took the guise of a sage, and made him an hermitage on the banks of the River Yamuna. Then, when Kuvalayaswa passed by, the disguised Danava made petition to him, saying, "O prince, who art sent for our defence, I have a work to do, and I come to thee for aid. I must needs perform a holy rite to Varuna, Lord of the waters; give me, therefore, for gold thy neck-ornament, and guard my hermitage while I am absent."

So the prince undid the ornament that was upon his neck, and gave it to Talaketu with courteous obeisance, saying, "Go thy way, reverend sir, and do as thou sayest in peace of mind. None shall molest thy dwelling meanwhile, for I shall stay