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SINGHAL SINGHA
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To the king, his father-in-law, however, he tendered a correct account, and expressed a desire to go out in search of his first wife. The king heartily approved, and lent him the service of a minister, Rudradatta, to assist him in his search So one day, Prince Singhal, his wife Ratnavati, and the minister Rudradatta, all the three were again on board a ship
Now, as the minister saw Ratnavatı, he felt a weakness for her and soon he hatched a plan to throw the prince into the sea so that the lady would be his He was only waiting for a chance The chance came one night when, as everybody else was fast asleep, the prince came on board and stood near the brim, and the minister, unperceived, pushed him into the sea, As soon as the plan was executed, he raised an alarm, but it was too late and no trace of the prince could be found When Ratnavati came to know of the tragedy, she was very sorry. Rudradatta came to console her and promised her all happiness if she was prepared to live with him
This was a new danger for the princess But being alone in the ship, she was helpless Still she contrived a plan and said,
"But I must perform the last rites of my departed husband before I can start a new life with you Don't you think, therefore, that I value not your offer."
This raised high hopes in the mind of the minister who started building castles in the air. It was a pleasant thought for him that he would be able to call a princess his own The ship was now not very far from the coast when it dashed against a hidden rock and broke into pieces In their bid to save themselves from drowning, the passengers tried to catch at the floating objects and swim ashore Ratnavati also did the same With the support of a floating plank, she reached the coast near Kusumpur, and, therefrom, she reached the same temple where Dhanavatı was already seated in penance.
It was a co-incidence that the minister, Rudra, too reached Kusumpur where he accepted service as a minister to the king.
When Prince Singhal was thrown into the sea, some unknown power had picked him up and placed him safely into
