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Prakrit and Apabhramsa Studies
from the Isle of Jewel and the Isle of Gold. He also planned to use them for removing Lohargalā to some far away spot. So once sumptuously dressed, as he was passing near her place, she sighted him and welcomed him so that she can fleece him once again. As this time Magadhikā refused her to get out of Pravarasena the secret of his never-exhausting wealth, she herself made him to reveal it through blandishment. Consequently she persuaded him to take her by means of the magic shoes to a mid-sea temple of the God of Love, which she pretended she had vowed to visit for his safe return. He took her to the desired temple; taking off the magic shoes he went inside the temple. Lohargala grabbed the opportunity and disappeared with the shoes. Pravarasena was repentant. But shortly he got a chance of escape. As he assisted a visiting Vidyadhara in his rites for acquiring magic powers, the latter rewarded him with two magic pills: The tilaka-mark with one of these turned a human being into an ass. The other reversed that effect. The Vidyadhara presented him with a quantity of jewels and gold and dropped him into Patalipura.
Getting news of Pravarasena having returned hail and hearty, Lohargala cooked up a plot. Getting her body bandaged all over, she called for Pravarasena through her daughter. When the latter arrived, she narrated her fabricated story-how she had to run away with the magic shoes to save them from a grabbing Vidyadhara, who knocked her down and got away with the shoes. Pretending to believe her story, he offered to effect a miracle cure for her wounds and turn her into a youthful damsel. He asked for the removal of the bandages, against which she trumped up the ruse of unbearable pain. She asked to treat her with the bandages untouched. He put a tilaka-mark on her forehead with one of his magic pills. She was instantly changed into a she-ass. He mounted on her back and lashing heartily drove her on the royal highway. A complaint was made to the king. He guessed the mischief-maker to be none else than his long-lost brother. He went forth and received him. Pravarasena narrated his whole story. Lohargala's human form was restored to her by using the other pill, when repayment of all she got by cheating was guaranteed. She made over to
