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"I am the narse of the son of Satyašarman, living on the bank of the river Käveri, by his younger wife. His elder wife pushed me down into the river, along with the child. As I was drifting away in the current with the child on my head, I saw an aprooted tree com ing down the stream and caught hold of it. I was bit ten by a serpent which was present on the tree. While it was trying to bite the child also, a volture snatch ed it away. Then I reached the bank with the child, tut soon fell down un conscious. On waking up I saw a sage making some gesticulations, but not the child. I asked the sage. but he could not give me any information as to what hap- pened to the child but said that he was only testing on me the efficacy of his kacw. ledge of poison cure. So,
and married a Brahmin girl by name Ka'i As no child was born to them he married her sister Gaurī also and got a son by her. I became the nurse of the child. Oat of jealousy Käli threw the child along with me into the river. Holding the child in one arm I was swimming towards the bank. An uprooted tree was coming down the carrent and when it came near me I placed the child on it holding myself faet to it. A serpent which was present on the tree bit me, and the tree itself dashed on the bank. I am now lamenting for the fate of the child as I may die soon of the poison.'
Soon she fell down. I went in search of suitable medicine, but before I could return, she was dead. I performed her obsequies and unable to find out the