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102
Journey into Jainism
wasted little time in stripping her of her valuables and replacing them with a simple peasant garment, then presented her to their leader as a tribute.
Trembling with the rage of insulted pride, Bhatta succeeded in convincing the thieves' leader to keep his distance at least. Tortured daily, she bore the pain in silence but didn't give up chastity.
One day the chief thief's mother remarked on Bhatta's admirable tolerance. She told her son, "She is not an ordinary woman. It will do you no good to torture her. A curse from her lips might bring disaster upon our heads. I advise you, my son, to torture her no more.'
As fate would have it, his fears were indeed confirmed. Bhatta was soon abducted by thieves.