________________
to induce fainting, due to which, thinking I was dead, they left me there and went away. After they left I took out the pills from my mouth and stated to look for you but could not find you. Through my father's friend when I found out about my father running away and my mother being harassed I decided to somehow sneak her out of K mpilyapura. In a dramatic way, sneaking out my mother from there, leaving her at my father's close friend's house under his care, I went out in search of you and have come here after wandering about.
After this, Brahmadatta told him his entire account. Brahmadatta had not yet completed his story when he got information about a big battalion of D rgha's army coming there. Both of them, running through forests and caves, reached Kau mb city. At a big garden in Kau mb they saw two wealthy merchants betting their cocks to fight for a bet of one lakh rupees each. Both cocks fought each other for a long time, but finally, despite being a pedigree, S garadatta's cock lost to Buddhila's cock. Brahmadatta was surprised at the defeat of S garadatta's pedigree cock. He observed closely Buddhila's cock and removing the sharp nails stuck in its claws, set both of them again to fight. In a few moments, Buddhila's cock lost. Having won a lost game, S garadatta was very happy and took the prince and Varadhanu to his house and kept them at his place like his own brothers. But the king of Kau mb was searching for Varadhanu and Brahmadatta as requested by D rgha; hence they decided to leave Kau mb.
That midnight, seated on S garadatta's chariot both of them left Kau mb. After going up to a little distance, S garadatta returned. The two friends went forward. There they saw a chariot with weapons with a beautiful young woman sitting in it. Seeing them, the young damsel asked – “Where were you so long? I have been waiting for you so long." The prince, astounded, asked her – “O young lady! Who are you? And how do you recognize us?” The woman seated on the chariot said – “I am Buddhila's sister, Ratnavat. Ever since I saw you at the contest between S garadatta's and Buddhila's cocks, I have been longing to meet you, now I am here to fulfill my desire."
Both friends sat in Ratnavat 's chariot. Varadhanu held the horses' reins. Ratnavati asked him to take the chariot towards the house of her uncle the merchant Dhan vaha in Magadhapur. Varadhanu led the chariot
219
