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146
TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MANIPATI-CARITA
140. and taking a third pot she gave it to the sadhus full. The munis said: 'Lady, excellent and compassionate disciple,
141. for our sake this great offence of hers was committed, so do not say anything.' Greatly pleased she
142. replied: 'Reverend sir, having seen the fruit of anger here in this world, I am not at all angry.' The munis said: Tell us how.'
143. She said: 'Listen here in this city there is a merchant Dhanapravara with a very lovely wife called Kamalaśrī.
144. To them I was born after their eight sons, a daughter obtained by special devotion to a divinity and my parents bestowed on me the name of Bhaṭṭi.
145. Because my father declared: 'Let not anyone gainsay my daughter dear to my heart' I acquired the nickname of Accankariya Bhaṭṭā.
146. As grows the digit of the moon in the black fortnight so I increased in knowledge of many arts and arrived at a matchless youthful beauty like a royal palace of the king of love.
147. Many suitors came for me but my father would not give me to them. He insisted: 'I will give my daughter to the man who will not gainsay her.'
148. One day, attended by female friends and servant girls whilst going to the Jaina temple, I was seen by the minister named Subuddhi.
'Give
149. Carried away by passion he said to my father: me your daughter: I will do whatever you say.' Then my father said to him:
This is what I have laid down: I will not give my daughter to any man who transgresses any prohibition of hers'. When he agreed to this I was given to him. 151. He married me with great pomp and I went to his house. When he had done his work he would come home at the middle of the evening watch.
150.
152. One day the king asked the minister: 'Why do you go home quickly?' so he told him everything.
