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p. 648-561.)
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nounce Niluka, he resolved to starve himself to death in the hope of being united with her in their next birth. And as Niluka decided on dying together with him, they remained under an Asoka-tree. Någadova happened to come and learnt from Niluka's friends the intention of Priyamitra and his bride; but thinking him inaccessible to advice he uttered some common place remarks and departed. The couple died after two months and became a pair of Kinnaras. 558, 3. They went to the Asoka-tres under which they had died, and erected, near it, a shrine dedicated to the god Ananda and his wife Nirvşti. Then they went to Nandanavana, where they met a Vidyadhari in great distress who related her misfortunes. Once being engrossed by thoughts of her lover she had committed a fault in the service of the Vidyādevatā and had been cursed by her to be separated from him for six months; but on being appeased the goddess had advised her to go to Nandanavana where in a certain place grew the tree Priyamelaka; when she stood under it, she would be united with her lover. She haud searched for that tree, but though the goddess haid described it to her, she was unable to make it out. The Kinnaras promised to help her and, indeed, found out the tree. When they stood under it, the Vidyādhara appeared all of a sudden, and joined his wife. The Kinnari persuaded her husband to uproot that tree and plant it near the temple they had erected. The tree acquired the fame as a Tirtha, which was named Priyamelaka. 560, 6.
(Main story continued.) The king and prince Sena rejoiced at the thought that Sántimati might be recovered by means of the miraculous tree and the chief of the Sabaras stated that he knew the place where it grow. Thereupon the king dismissed Sana and the chief with many followers, making Sena promise to return after the re. covery of his wife. After a few marches the travellers reached the hermitage of the Tápanas, and the chief led Sena to the place where, according to the description, the miraculous tree grow; but he could not tell which it was among the numeroux troes that were growing there.
Now santimati who had been gathering flowers and fuel,
