________________
172
Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
of his benefactor, Jinadatta. The latter had once saved him from being executed as a thief (92). Then he asked her what he might do for her: 11 she told him to find Bandhudatta, from whom she had been separated in the mêlée of the attack. He went in search, but did not find him, whereupon he took oath that he would enter the fire, in case her husband was not restored to her within six months. Caņdasena then sent out all his Bhillas, but even so they did not find Bandhu. In great worry, Caņdasena concluded that Bandhu, in despair, had made away with himself (98). He decided to take Priyadarçanā back to Kāuçãmbi, after she had brought forth her child; after that he would enter the fire. While in this state of mind, a bandmaiden announced that Priyadarganā had born a son. Thereupon he vowed to his house divinity, Caņdasenā by name,12 that he would offer up ten men 13 to her, in case Priyadarçanā and her son should remain in good health for a month. After 25 days had passed peacefully he sent out his men to capture ten men fit for sacrifice (103).
In the meantime Bandhudatta had wandered despairingly in the Hintāla forest.“ Unable longer to endure separation from Priyadarçanā, he was about to hang himself upon a saptachada tree, when he saw a separated hansa-bird couple reunited,14 gathered hope from the sight, and decided to return to his own city. But worrying, because it seemed improper to return without his
11 The trait of gratitude in otherwise depraved Bhillas or Çabaras is not uncommon; see, e. g. Samarådityasaṁksepa 6. 62 ff.; 7. 287 ff. In the first of these instances the hero's name is also Bandhudatta.
"Mentioned later in verse 168 in the short form Canda = Durgå. 1a See note on p. 205. This feature in Samarādityasamksepa 6. 49 ff.
* The separation of a pair of hansas is typical of separated lovers; see Gray's translation of Vasavadatta, p. 57, note 11; Samarādityasamk sepa 6. 162, 186, 232, 273, 490 ff.
