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Prakrit and Apabhramśa Studies
succeeded in turning the king against S., whom he (the king) ordered to leave the kingdom. Sāvalimgā accompanied S. in exile.
Passing through a dreary tract, S. procured water for the thirsty Sāvalimgā by offering his blood in exchange. But this turned out to be just a test devised by Harisiddhi, the presiding divinity of Ujjayini. Mightily pleased with his fortitude, she gifted him miraculous dice and cowries and a steel-knife, which made him invincible in gambling games and battles.
Resuming their journey, they came to a temple of Siva where Līlāvati, the daughter of king Dharavīra ruling at Dhārā, was practising penance to obtain S. as her husband. S. accepted her. The marriage was celebrated. S. stayed at Dhārā for a few days. Then he left for Pratişthāna to deposit Sāvalimgā at her father's house. He promised to take Lilavati with him on the return journey.
While passing through a dense forest, S. met a band of five thieves in a den. In a chailenge game of gambling they lost against him. S. declined their offer of magic gifts. So the thieves clandestinely inserted in his shield jewelled bodice worth a million and promised to go to his help when remembered in a critical situation. S. and Sāvaliṁgā left that place. Proceeding further they came across a deserted city, where the presiding deity of the buried treasures of king Nanda of yore appeared before S. and offered him the treasures. But unwilling to take possession of the treasures without offering ceremonial worship. S. moved on and reached the precincts of Pratisthāna. He lest Sāvalimgā in charge of a bard there, and proceeded towards Pratisthāna to procure funds through gambling.
As he entered the city-gate he chanced to see a feliow with hands, nose and ears maimed. He took this to be an evil omen, but that Thumthā introduced himself as the prince of Simhala. He lost all his money at gambling during his visit to Pratisthāna and having failed to pay dues, he was maimed by the gamblers. S. accepted him as his trusted companion.
