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196
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
She lived along with him as his sister. The monk further revealed that the child was no body else but Yakşadatta himself. Yakşadatta went to the king and after making an enquiry about his birth got re-united with his real parents.
The PCR (46.34-60) and the RPS (ch. 22) agree with it.
59. Vinayadatta and a man mad after a Peacock:
Jambavat narrated this story to make Rama drop the idea of recovering Sita. He requested him not to become mad after Sita when so many Khecara girls were put at his disposal to make him happy (48.63-76). It illustrates the futility of demanding a thing which is lost beyond recovery.
Brahmin Vilasabhūti of Vennātaţa (Veņņāyada) had illegitimate connections with his friend Vinayadatta's wife. Once on being advised by her, Vilasabhūti took Vinayadatta to a forest. The former tied the latter there to a tree and enjoyed with the latter's wife. After some time a wayfarer released Vinayadatta and accompanied him to his house. The brahmin fled away from there. By chance the peacock of the wayfarer was stolen by the prince. That wayfarer was offered in exchange another peacock, jewels and gold by Vinayadatta but the former insisted upon getting the same peacock in exchange of the help he had rendered to him. Jāmbavat further explained how foolish it was on the part of the wayfarer that he demanded a thing which was beyond recovery.
The PCR (48. 137-156) and the RPS (ch. 22) contain the same story.
60. Atmaśreyas and the Mystic ring : Lakşmaņa narrated this story in reply of the preceding story to clear of Jambūnada's (Jámbavat) apprehensions and to convince and encourage the Khecara soldiers to fight and recover Sītā (48.77-96). It illustrates that the brave deserves the fair.
Ātmaśreyas (Appaseo) on account of his previous subha' karmas enjoyed his life without doing any labour while his two elder brothers worked hard. At this extravagancy of Ātmaśreyas, his parents banished him from home. On his way as he was contemplating to commit suicide, he met an exiled prince namely, Bhānu who had obtained from his preceptor at Kusumapura a mystic ring which could cure diseases and could destroy calamities. According to a prophocy Bhānu was going to re-acquire his kingdom,