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EMANCIPATION OF AJITA SVĀMIN AND SAGARA
207
benefactor. The sun shines, the moon delights every one, the cloud rains at the right time, the ground bears herbs, the ocean does not cross its boundary, the earth remains firm by the power of such as you devoted to benefiting others. Now hand over my wife who was left as a deposit, O king, and I shall go to my own pleasure-ground. Since my enemy has been killed by your favor, free from fear I shall wander with my wife on Mt. Vaitādhya, in the latticed-windows on the wall around Jambūdvīpa), etc.'
Filled with shame, anxiety, disgust, and astonishment simultaneously, the king said to the man :
After you had deposited your wife and had gone away, we heard the sounds of sword and shield and battlecries in the sky. Arms, feet, head, and trunk fell in turn from the sky, and your wife said to us exactly, "These are my husband's." When she said, “I am going to enter the fire with my husband's body," we restrained your wife for a long time from affection for a daughter. When your wife was restrained by us from entering the fire, she treated us differently, like a low person. Then, when we had become silent, she went impetuously to the river, and entered the fire with the body in the presence of the people. Just now, after making the offering, etc., to her, I came and was plunged in grief for her, and you have come. What is this, pray ? Were those limbs not yours, or are you not he ? That is the question. But why are we talking here, our lips sealed by ignorance?'
With feigned anger the man declared : Oh! you are known falsely by popular report as 'brother to other men's wives.' Deceived by that name we deposited our wife. You are known by such conduct, like iron by water. The same thing which was done by my wicked enemy was done by you, O king. What difference, say, between the two? If you consider yourself not lustful for women, or if you are afraid of evil speaking, then give me my wife. You can not deceive me. If people like you,
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