________________
[ 40. 21. wife.” He also became glad. The ship proceeded. It crossed the distance of five yojanas only.
In the meantime, a demoness named Suvaranā, the mistress of Suvarana-dvipa came there, moving through the sky and shaking the sea by her swift coming. She was unpleasing to the eyes like the ill-timed lightning. She said, “Oh, villain of a merchant-son, without doing a grateful act for me, where do you go taking this my wealth ?” She held up the vessel and said, “O sailors, this wealth cannot be taken without giving me a human sacrifice. So either give a human sacrifice or abandon this wealth. Otherwise, I shall kill you. If you do not give even a single one of these, I shall wreck your ship having produced a calamity.” Dharana thought, "Oh, this Suvadana will be deprived of his wealth! He is a benefactor by getting me Laxmi. She also says so. Therefore, this is only suited to the occasion. I shall be a human offering." Having so thought, he said to the demoness, “O divine lady, I have done so, without knowing. So do me the favour. I indeed am the man as an offering.
59
