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him. She also bowed to god Vánavyantara. Drdhasakti wanted to know the real state of affairs there and Kanakamālā told him the story of her brother's death. Drdhasakti wanted to know about the third dead body and Vänavyantara confessed that he had changed Kanakamālā into a dead body. Drdhasakti asked him for what purpose exactly he had done it. Vänavyantara's eleborate explanation was as follows:
"Inthe city of Kșitipratisthita there was a king Jitasatru by name. He married the daughter of an ordinary painter called Citrānigada and her name then was Kanakamañjari. In course of time she became a lay disciple and piloted her father across this world as his spiritual guide and that is how after his death he became a god Vānayyantara by name and that is me. Once I happened to see Kanakamālā in this palace, overwhelmed with grief. An extremely tender affection sprang up in me and I wondered whether shed have been a near relative of mine in any of the former existences. I made use of superhuman knowledge, avadhi and through it realised that the young lady in front of me was none else than my daughter Kanakamañjari, who after death was re-born as a Vidyādhara's daughter. When you came, and claimed to be her father, I thought she would go away with you and I hated separation from her. Therefore, I turned her into a woman of a different appearance in order to deceive you. But when you decided to take to the life of a religious mendicant, I felt greatly distressed by what I did to deceive you. I would very much like you to forgive me for this evil act." King Drdhasakti who had by now decided to be a
nonk. expressed his gratitude to Vänavyantara, whom he considered to be his benefactor because on account of his trickery, the king could grasp the truth regarding the real nature of sam sära, He then flew up and roamed in accordance with his own desire.
Kanakamālā, who had heard the story told by Vănavyantara carefully, recollected her previous birth and told the god that she indeed was Kanakamañjari, his daughter. She then asked her father, Vānavyantara, who would it be to marry her. The god Vānavyantara who was in possession of the superior knowledge of avadhi told her that the one who in the earlier existence was king
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