________________ abandoned. These incidents are covered by the Third Act. When the servant Kuvalaya, who was sent to Mathura on some mission immediately after Samudradatta's departure, returns at that juncture and comes to know about banishment of the pregnant Nandayanti under the accusation of unchastity, he reveals the fact of Samudradatta's secret visit at midnight prior to the day of his departure on voyage. He shows to Sagaradatta the inscribed finger-ring presented at that time to him by Samudradatta. Sagaradatta is now relieved of the mental stress of family infamy due to supposed misconduct of his daughter-in-law. He is convinced that the latter was free form any blemish on her character, her pregnancy being the natural consequence of her union with Samudradatta. He, however, feels deep remorse for the cruel and unjust punishment he meted out to the innocent Nandayanti, which is expressed in the following verse (VJ. under IV 5.6): GEURI YM-114-fari, afa-yi fasretallat i ममापि सामान्यसमुद्यतोऽनुतापस् तु पापस्य भवेत् स शुद्धिः // That finger-ring inscribed with my son's name clearly establishes purity of my daughter-in-law's character. The contrition swelling up in my mind for my sinful conduct may perhaps purify me too'. Then he asks Kuvalaya why the latter did not tell him this previously (951, fonta de 941 11754). The Text of Kuvalaya's reply is, as it stands, hopelessly corrupt. It is as follows. (VJ. p. 253): तदोपणिकमन्ते राम पणि यात त हिंएव्व पविसंति / दिग्धाच्छादितं च मए स अंएव्व पेख्खि छन्वाहनसंपदं : [12]
