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JAINA LITERATURE IN TAMIL
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ourselves.' She did as she was told. When they reached the foot of the mountain, the robber said to her, 'Wife, from this point on let us two go alone; we will send back the rest of the company in a conveyance; you take the vessel containing the offering and carry it yourself.' She did as she was told.
The robber took her in his arms and climbed the mountain to the top of the Robber's cliff. (One side of this mountain men can climb; but the other side is a precipitous cliff, from the top of which robbers are flung, being dashed to pieces before they reached the bottom; therefore it is called 'Robber's cliff'). Standing on the top of the mountain, she said, 'Husband, present the offerings'. Her husband made no reply. Again she spoke, 'Husband, why do you remain silent'. Then he said to her, 'I have no use for the offering; I deceived you in bringing you here with an offering'. "Then why did you bring me here, husband?' 'To kill you, seize your jewels, and escape.' Terrified with the fear of death, she said to him, 'Husband, both my jewels and my person belong to you; why do you speak thus?'. Over and over again she pleaded with him, 'Do not do this,' but his reply only was 'I will kill you.' 'After all, what will you gain by killing me? Take these jewels and spare my life; henceforth regard me as your mother, or else let me be your slave-woman and work for you.' So saying, she recited the following stanza:
Take these golden bracelets, all set with beryls Take all, and welcome; call me your slave-woman. 7
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