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trust Laxmi who had been unfaithful to her own husband. He took out her jewels and left her. She wandered about and found Dharana. He recognised her and she wept. She said, she had been out to make water and the thief, in the meanwhile, carried her away. Dharana was glad that she was at least chaste and had not resorted to usual female treachery. They then started from that place with a view to leave Laxmi at her maternal uncle's place in Dantapura. (P. 30. I. 9.)
On the way, he was seen by the S'abaras of Kalasena. Kālasena had in the meantime prepared to enter fire, after giving the promised sacrifice of ten men to Chandikā or Kādambāri, his family-goddess, though his object was not fulfilled. He instructed his men to hand over the caravan to Dharana's elder. In the meanwhile Dharana was brought to Chandikā's temple. The poet describes here Chandika's temple and its surroundings. At that time, the human sacrifice was to be offered to Chandikā. The first was the turn of Durgilaka, an errand-boy. Dharana felt for him and offered himself for the sacrifice instead of the errand-boy, who was much
