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[The main story continues. ]
Dharana then took the hermit's life and taking to various observances, he acquired the fitness to take the observance of going alone. He came to Tamralipti and was in meditation outside the city in the garden. There also had come Laxmi who after her banishment was found out by Suvadana and taken as a wife. Laxmi saw Dharana and recognised him. The old malice again took hold of her. She thought of proving him a thief by putting her necklace with a broken string before him and raise alarm. She did so and the policemen came running there to put him under arrest. He was taken to the gallows but the gallows instead of piercing him fell down.
The people and the king were convinced, he was a true hermit. The king asked him to narrate the real matter of the case which he did not, as he was under a vow of silence. On the advice of the minister, Laxmi was searched for, but she had already fled away. Suvadana however was arrested in his flight. Suvadana recognised Dharana and told in camera all the account. He was released and