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renunciation. She took a vow and went to heaven. Falling from heaven, she became this daughter of yours. So, on account of the influence of her previous life, she has been possessed by the goddesses of the air. But just now, on beholding me, the goddesses of the air left her and fled.'
When he had said this the woman remembered her former birth, and beheld her previous life. A desire for renunciation sprang up in her. She asked to be allowed to take a vow; but the holy man would not sanction it. He said : The effects of indulgence still subsist in you.' So she observed the conduct prescribed for householders.
At this point Amaradatta asked the religious teacher what had happened to Mitránanda. Then the holy man said :
'Hear, o king! When Mitránanda left you, he went, surrounded by your brave warriors, towards the city of Vasantapura ; and when they had advanced into a certain forest, a body of Bhillas made an attack on them. All the warriors fled, terrified at the attack, wishing to save their lives. Mitránanda, too, fled in a certain direction. When he had roamed about a considerable time in the wood, he reached a certain lake. Having drunk water from it, he slept under a banyan-tree. In the meanwhile a serpent came out from the hollow trunk of that tree, and bit Mitránanda ; but at that very moment an ascetic came there, who restored him to life, when senseless from the effect of the poison. The hermit went to his own place, but Mitránanda, setting out to return to you, was on the way seized by bandits, who proceeded to sell him to some merchants who travelled in boats. Those merchants took Mitránanda to Persia. And bringing him back from Persia, with the intention of going to another country, they arrived at Ujjayiní. At that time the city of Ujjayiní was disturbed with fear of robbers. By order of the king, policemen were patrolling in every direction. Now, it happened that , Mitránanda escaped from those members of the caravan, and was seen by the policemen entering Ujjayini
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