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Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
failed to operate. Therefore, the thief concluded,' do what is customary' (163).
176
The minister asked the thief why one jewel casket was missing,21 and he answered that some traveler had found it by chance (daivatas). The minister then mercifully discharged him, and called the two confined suspects.22 After they had repeated their story, they were released. But, as they went their way, they fell into the hands of the Bhillas, whom Candasena had ordered to capture victims for his goddess Canda.23 They were joined to others who had been caught for the same purpose, being kept in the temple of the goddess. The chieftain Canda arrived with Priyadarçanã and her boy. Considering that she would not be able to endure the sight of the horrible rite, he covered up her eyes with a garment (170). It happened that Bandhudatta was first to be brought on for the sacrifice. As he pronounced the parameṣṭhinamaskāra,24 his wife recognized his voice, and uncovered her eyes. The chieftain released him, and asked his pardon (177). Bandhudatta begged off the other victims, the goddess thereafter being content with praise, flowers, and the like. He then introduced his wife to Dhanadatta who blessed her and praised her husband. Their boy was named Bandhavananda in allusion to Bandhu's name and the fact that he was a joy to his relatives. Dhanadatta with the money he needed (to ransom his family) returned home. Bandhudatta, escorted by the Bhilla chief, returned to Nāgapurī, was honored by the king, and the story of his adventures converted many to the religion of the Jina (157-191).
21 Namely, that which Bandhudatta had found.
Bandhudatta and Dhanadatta.
23 Mentioned previously by fuller name as Candasena; see verse 101. 24 See note on p. 26.
