________________ Introduction he bought clothes, ornaments and weapons eto. by selling that gold. Now in the city of Kosambi there lived a very rich merchant named Dhavala who had come to the city of Broach accompanied by merchants and even though he made a very big profit there he was intent upon going to a distant shore on account of the covetousness of wealth, and therefore, for that purpose he made ready 400 ships. Then in an aus picious moment Dhavale embarked on those ships but they did dot move in spite of the sailors' trying to do so. Then Dhavala got down, went into the city and asked a sikottari (a female evil spirit) the reason of the ships' not moving and he was told that they were stopped by a god and would move only if a man possessed of thirty two auspicious marks on the body were given in oblation to that god. Dhavala having satisfied the king of Broach with presents etc. took permission from him for catching hold of such a man. The king allowed him to do so on a condition that such a man must be a foreigner and most be helpless (i. e. without a guardian etc). Obtaining his men to find out such a man, who after a
