________________ THE STORY OF NANDAYANTI IN THE JAIN TRADITION AND THE LOST SANSKRIT DRAMA PUSPADUSITAKA The silopalesamala, containing a total of 114 Gatha verses, is a Jainistic didactic - religious tract in Prakrit, preaching the virtues of observing chastity (Sila). It was written by Jayakirti probably in the ninth century A. C. It gives a list of 23 men and 20 women of legend who were instructive instances of chaste or unchaste conduct. In the catalogue of chaste women, Gatha no. 56 lists the names of Silavati, Nandayanti, Manorama and Rohini as famous Mahasatis. Somatilaka-suri alias Vidyatilaka-suri wrote a Sanskrit commentary on the Silopadesamala, called Silatarangini, wherein he has given the stories of all the persons named in the former. The story of Nandayanti (pp. 434 to 441) is summarised below. ; In Potanapura, ruled over by King Naravikrama, lived the merchant Sagarapota. His son Samudradatta was married to Nandayanti, the daughter of the merchant Nagadatta of Soparapura. Once Samudradatta expressed to his father his desire to visit other countries and earn wealth through his own endeavour. Getting the latter's approval Samudradatta made preparations for a sea-voyage, and loaded his ship with merchandise. On the point of departure he conveyed to his friend Sahadeva, how he felt sorry that although he took leave of all the relatives, he could not meet Nandayanti because she was in menses. Sahadeva assured him he would take care of the last stage of preparations. *Samudradatta secretly returned at night from the sea beech and proceeded towards his residence, driven by love for his [3]