38b: The Destruction of the Sakyans – 1371
the girl’s voice. Where all the other girls fled with fear at the sight of the king,
Mallikā, who was destined to become queen felt no fear. Instead, she came
forward and took the reins of the king’s charger in her hand.
Still sitting on horseback, he asked the girl whether she was married or not. On
learning that she was unmarried, he dismounted and as he was tired from the
heat of the sun and the wind, he took a rest on Mallikā’s bosom. After having
rested, he took the girl on horseback and entered the city accompanied by his
army. He had the girl escorted to her parents’ home. That evening, he sent the
royal carriage to Mallikā’s house for the use of Chief Queen, and she was
brought to the palace with pomp and ceremony. Then placing her on a
ceremonial seat wrought with precious gems, she was anointed Chief Queen.
From that day, Mallikā became the beloved Chief Queen.
Thus the two Mallikās should be known: Mallikā the Kosala Queen was
the daughter of a
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flower-seller; Mallikā, the wife of Bandhula, the
commander-in-chief, was the daughter of one of the Malla princes.
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