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namanjari was going along on the road, she said to Mitrá nanda: 'My lord, you ought not to ride on the same horse as your friend's wife.' He said: You are as a daughter to me, so why should we not ride on the same horse ?' When she heard this, she said to herself: Happy is the man whose friend he is.' While she was engaged in these reflections, Mitránanda brought her into the public garden of Pátaliputra. Just at this point, the two months being at an end, Amaradatta, through grief for his friend, had asked the merchant Ratnaságara for firewood.* Then Ratnaságara made ready the pyre, but the citizens said to Amaradatta Wait somehow or other till this day comes to an end.' Then Amaradatta waited to please the people. Then the people said to Amaradatta: 'A horseman is approaching.' While all looked on with the utmost excitement, Mitránanda came up to Amaradatta. Then the two friends rejoiced greatly, and immediately the marriage took place in front of that very fire as a witness. The merchant Ratnaságara and the people of the city talked much of them to one another. Now, it happened that the king of that city died in the course of the night without leaving issue. Then the ministers had recourse to the five ordeals. The mighty elephant came into the garden outside the city. There the elephant sprinkled Prince Amaradatta and put him on its back. Then the horse neighed. The two chowries fanned the prince. An umbrella was held over his head. A divine voice was heard in the air: Long live King Amaradatta !' Then great rejoicings took place in the city. King Amaradatta entered the city in triumph, and arrived in the palace. Then the ministers and the feudatory princes and others anointed him king. Amaradatta made Mitránanda head of his cabinet, Ratnamanjari was the jewel of his harem, and the merchant Ratnaságara was appointed royal merchant. So he ruled his realm. Once, after many days had passed, Mitránanda said to the king "King, that speech of the corpse presses on my mind, so grant me a favour; send me away to a distance.' As
* In order to burn himself.
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