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Story of Bandhudatta
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wife, he decided to go to an uncle of his, Dhanadatta by name, in Viçālā, to borrow from him the money wherewith to ransom Priyadarçanā from her captor, the Çabara chief. As he traveled, he came, tired, to the house of a Yakşa, and there met another wayfarer. He found out that he was from Viçālā, so he inquired after the welfare of his uncle Dhanadatta. The traveler related that Dhanadatta's son and his wife had offended the king, and were confined in prison; that Dhanadatta had undertaken to ransom them; and, for that purpose, had set out for Nāgapurī, to get the money from him, namely Bandhudatta. In despair at this prank of fortune, Bandhudatta remained there, awaiting Dhanadatta, who was sure to come that way to Nāgapurī. After five days Dhanadatta with some friends came along and halted at the same shrine. Bandhu made sure it was his uncle, but did not reveal his own identity (123).
In the morning Bandhu went to bathe in a river, near which he discovered in a mine-pit a copper chest full of treasure. Then he made himself and his adventures known to Dhanadatta, and offered him the chest where. with to ransom his family. • Dhanadatta refused, bidding him first to ransom his wife, Priyadarçanā (128). In the mean time soldiers of the king arrived, and held up every one who had passed there on the suspicion of robbery. Dhanadatta and Bandhudatta, frightened, threw the chest down by the temple of the Yakşa, were discovered in the act, and cross-examined about themselves and treasure. They alleged that they were merchants from Viçālā, on their way to Laţa, and that the treasure was inherited. The king's minister, who was with the soldiers, himself opened the chest, and discovered the king's name upon jewels contained therein (135). He suspected that the chest was only part of the loot taken from the
