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fearlessness.
Now Bandhudatta, separated from his wife, standing in a grove of date trees, unhappy, thought: "Separated from me, she, long-eyed, will not be able to live a day. My wife is probably dead. With what hope can I live in future? Death is a suitable refuge. There is no other course for me. No I shall die, hanging myself from this big saptacchada." With these thoughts he moved forward.
CHAPTER FOUR
When he got near to the saptacchada, he saw a big pool in front of it and in it a rājahansa grieved by separation from his mate. Seeing him miserable like himself, he was very grieved. For the unhappy man knows the mental suffering of the unhappy. While Bandhudatta stood so, in a moment the rajahansa was united closely with the hansi seated in the shade of a lotus-bed. After seeing him united with his wife Bandhudatta thought:
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Again the union of the living with the wife takes place. I shall go to my own city. Penniless, how shall I go there? Going to Kauśāmbi without my wife is not suitable. After going to Viśālā and taking money from my maternal uncle, giving it to the general of the thieves, I shall obtain the release of my wife. After going with my wife to Nāgapuri, from my own house I shall give the money to my maternal uncle by some means, remembering what was done.
With this plan, going east the next day, he went in great distress to a place named Giristhala. While he rested in a Yakṣa's temple concealed by a tree, near the road, a traveler suffering from fatigue came. Asked by Bandhudatta, "Whence have you come?" the traveler announced clearly, "I am from Viśālā." Is the caravan-leader there, Dhanadatta, all right?" asked by Bandhudatta, the traveler, sad-faced, said:
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When Dhanadatta was away on business, his eldest son, sporting with his wife at home, paid no attention to the king as he was passing by. Angered by that offense, the king seized his goods and put his household, sons, wives, et cetera in
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