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TRANSLATION
........ then what did he see? He saw that all was different. Even then, (he said), “my love will not be changed by these treacherous actions". Saying this, due to the pride of his good fortune he thought that all this was untrue and said to TIKKAPAIKA "Oh great one, you must go there and act thus ... This he told him.
(He) placed a horseman at an arch at every yojana and sent him (TIKKAPAIKA) there. He (TIKKAPAIKA) doned the attire of a pāśupata mendicant, moved here and there in front of her house and showed himself to AŚOKAVATI. On seeing him she said to her mother: "Mother is this man not similar to TIKKAPAIKA?” and sent her servant to fetch him. When he was sent for and he came, recognizing him to be TIKKAPAIKA, she said: "TIKKAPAIKA, what is this?” Without giving a reply TIKKAPAIKA started crying. When repeatedly asked, he said: “I am a sinner! What is the use of asking this wretched one?" and remained silent. With great concern she requested him to tell her. He said: "When the army went from here, there ensued a great battle with the king of Kaccha. When all the feudatories ran away, he, like the Mandara mountain, fell upon those who were desirous of churning the ocean of war. Though he received a thousand wounds, he destroyed them and became the object of a happy occasion of svayamvara for the heavenly damsels. Unable to abandon my life there, wretched that I am, I took up this heresy that is fit for men without guts”.
Before the news of his death reached ASOKAVATI'S ears she fell down dead like a wild she-elephant struck by lightening. TIKKAPAIKA sent the news to CHADDALAKA through the horsemen standing at the arches.
Meantime, the king in the assembly-hall, heard an uproar, and he enquired what it was about. The doorkeepers came and informed him that on hearing the canard about CHADDALAKA from TIKKAPAIKA. 172) ASOKAVATI died due to heart failure. SUNDARAKA, who was in the hall said to the king: "Sire I have thus destroyed a jewel among women. Therefore it is not fit that I should live. Therefore command me. Like water and milk there is no parting of those two. By my own wickedness, producing an infatuation in her mind I brought about this end. Therefore it is only proper that I give up my life". Though the king enlightened him in many ways he threw himself into the fire together with his wives and retinue.
Meantime, CHADDALAKA also heard the news through the horsemen. Accompanied by one horseman he came to AŚOKA
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