Lilavati Sara

Author(s): Jinratnasuri, H C Bhayani, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 31

Lilavati-sāra
thirst. He served him well till the king's retinue reached there. The king beaved a sigh of relief at being saved and he celebrated the occasion.
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With a view to test the king's affection for him, once Dhanavaha secretly confined within his premises the infant prince and his nurse, and then going to Devadatta he told her that the prince had unfortunately died at his hands. Devadatta enquired of him whether anybody had seen. him in the act. He declined. At this she advised him him to keep mum and behave as if nothing had happened. Next he went to his merchant friend and repeated the same story. The merchant reacted similarly and gave the same advice, Meanwhile the king searched for the prince and could not trace him. Devadatta went to the king and reported that the prince was killed accidentaly when one of her clients hurled a stone to ward off a dog, but it hit the prince, who had been brought there by the nurse. The king was in deep anguish. After a while the merchant friend went to the king and reported that the prince was killed at his hands. when he threw a stick at a pig, but it hit the prince. From their contradictory reports, the king surmised that perhaps the prince was alive, When he pressed the merchant to reveal the facts, the latter pleaded for for Dhanavaha, as the prince had died at his hands. The king condoned that act of Dhanävaha saying, 1 have repaid the debt of one. the debt of one Amalaka only out of three'. Dhanavaha, thus pardoned by the king, handed over the boy along with the nurse to the king, He was convinced of the soundness of his father's advice to keep good company. Honoured by the king, Dhanavaha returned home. (The sub-story ends here).
mercy
(The story of Vasunanda resumed)
Unimpressed by this instructive example. Vasunanda persisted in his argument for alchemy. Greatly offended, the father confined himself to the upper story of the residence. The relatives were surprised nt not seeing Vasumitra for a long time. Sudhava told them what had happened. The relatives intervened and tried to stop the boy from his madness about alchemy. But they too did not succeed. Finally the son separated from the family and was given part of his inheritance.
Vasunanda soon squandered away all his wealth and roamed with deceitful alchemist-cum-treasure-hunters in forests. When they spotted a Palasa sprout indicative of the buried treasure, they performed all the occult rites and Vasunarda dug the spot. When at last the treasure was unearthed, the alchemist hit Vasunandn and made away with the treasure. Vasunanda died.