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belonging to Chandravatí; therefore he is to be put to death. The thief seized his fingers with his teeth, and said to Davadantí: Princess, deliver me; I take refuge with you.' Then Davadantí proclaimed her chastity, and by the might of her chastity the thief's bonds were broken, and the policemen were driven to a distance. When the king heard of this occurrence, he came there. The king said to Davadantí: My dear child, how did you come to do this unbecoming deed? You ought not to rescue a robber.' Davadantí said: 'I did so because my heart was overpowered by pity. Pardon this offence of mine.' Then the king set the thief at liberty. The thief every day came to worship Davadantí as his mother. One day she said to him: Who are you, and whence do you come?' The thief said: 'How is it that you do not recognise me? I was Pingala, the slave of the caravan leader Vasanta, who lived in Tápasapura. One day, being addicted to gambling and other vices, I dug a hole into the house of the caravan leader, and took away the choicest part of his wealth. As I was going along with it, some robbers took it away from me. So I came here to Achalapura. I became a servant of King Rituparna. One day, seeing Chandravati's jewel-case, my heart was fluttered; when I got an opportunity, I stole it. When the king's constables found that out, they pinioned me; as I was being led off to slaughter, you saw me, and rescued me. But after you left Tápasapura, the caravan leader Vasanta remained a sevennight without taking food. Then, at the end of seven days, the saint Yaçobhadra admonished him, and made him take food. One day the caravan leader Vasanta went to Koçalá, to visit Kúvara, with a large present. Then Kúvara, being pleased, gave him the headship of the town of Tápasapura. Then Vasanta returned to his house as Çríçekhara, filling the air with the noise of his drums. There he reigns over Tápasapura.' Then Davadantí said to him: 'My dear child, take a vow.' He said: Mother, I will do whatever you tell me.' Then Pingala took a vow. In the meanwhile, one day King Bhímaratha heard that
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