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MUNIPATI
-that ?' The wife became very grave and said, 'The place Is far off, and difficult to reach Beaides, it will take a a very long time to reach there and return I can't bear the pang of this long separation' But Dhannya was so infatuated in his love for her that to him the idea of declining the lady's request was wholly repugnant So he decided to go at once, regardless of the strain and difficulty of the journey But, to be very clear about the exact place where to find the deer, he made a further enquiry from the lady, who said that it would be available in King Srenika's palace-garden, where it had been procured from some distant land
" 'Dhannya reached Rajagriha As he was taking rest under a tree in a public park, he saw a harlot coming there with many attendants Just then, a flying Vidyadhara saw her and lifted her up There was an uproar at once Dhannya shot an arrow, which hit the poor fellow, who fell on the ground The lady fell into a tank Dhannya helped her out and thus saved her life Henceforth, she became extremely friendly towards him and took him to her own abode She enquired about the purpose of his arrival to the metropolis when Dhannya told her everything
"'A woman knows much quicker another of her own sex than a man can do From the few words that Dhannya spoke about his wife, she had a fairly complete picture of her. 'Sir' said she Excuse my garrulity, but the lady for whom you are about to put yourself to the greatest risk and danger is not really devoted to you To be very frank, you know not much about her
" 'This was a shock to Dhannya who protested 'There's none on this earth as devoted as my own wife So please repeat not thy assessment of her any more'
" "That day, the lady was scheduled to dance at the palace, and she took her guest, Dhannya, with her All people were absorbed in the performanee The musk deer was
