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BRAHMADATTACAKRICARITA
337
own, a servant of Buddhila came and told Varadhanu something. When he had gone, Varadhanu told the prince, “Now see the half of a lac that Buddhila wished to give me.” Then he showed him a necklace which gave an imitation of the planet Sukra (Venus) with spotless, large, round pearls, Brahman's son saw a letter marked with his own name fastened to the necklace; and a female ascetic, named Vatsā, came like a message embodied. After throwing unhusked rice on their heads accompanied by the pronouncement for a blessing, she took Varadhanu aside, told him something, and went away.
The minister's son began to tell that to Brahman's son: “This woman asked for an answer to the letter fastened to the necklace. “Explain this letter marked with Sri Brahmadatta's name. Who is Brahmadatta?' Questioned so by me, she said:
'There is a sheth's daughter, named Ratnavatī, in this city, like Rati who has assumed maidenhood on earth in another form. On the day of the cock-fight of Sāgaradatta and her brother Buddhila, she saw this Brahmadatta. From that time distressed, wounded by love, she does not rest, but says constantly, “Brahmadatta is my refuge-he alone.' One day she herself wrote the letter fastened to the necklace and handed it to me, saying, “Deliver it to Brahmadatta.” I sent the letter by a slave.'. After saying this, she waited and I dismissed her, after delivering your answer." 316 From that day the prince, burned by Māra hard to control, like an elephant burned by the midday sun, was not happy.
One day men sent by Dirgha to the lord of Kaušāmbi came to search for them there, like an arrow lost in the body. When the search for them had started in Kaušāmbi at the king's order, Sāgara put them in an underground house and concealed them like a treasure. As they wished to leave,
316 325. Brahmadatta has written no reply, so far as we know. He has had no opportunity. But in the Māhārāştri version, Varadhanu delivers a reply, which he must have written himself. See Meyer, p. 39. 43 N
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