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TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MANIPAгI-CARITA 506. Her beauty must I think have been wrought by all the gods from the essence of the apsaras in order to astonish the world.
507. As she walked the sound of her anklets and her bracelets as they were jerked by the force of her movement would perturb even the minds of munis.
508. Whilst I was thinking thus about that girl who was a drug to delude the mind there descended from a neighbouring banyan tree
509. a blunt-nosed snake, and the girl transforming herself into a female snake lay with it, enjoying her pleasure indifferent to shame.
510. Then I thought: Shame on women who are so given up to illusion that one who is beautiful and of good family should lie with a blunt-nosed snake.'
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511. Then again I reflected: I am a king and it is my duty to protect the good and punish the wicked so
512. I will punish these two who are committing an offence. Then I lashed them with blows of the whip and only ceased when my anger had abated, and neither one of them was visible.
513. So I had learned that this blunt-nosed snake of the race of the vyantaras sometimes lies with this lovely Nāga
woman.
514. At that juncture my troops arrived following the track of my horse's feet and I came back here safely, my lady.'
515. A Nāga prince of handsome aspect, radiant like the rays of the sun, illuminating the ten quarters of the heavens, his body adorned with celestial ornaments (stood there.)
516. He said to the king: 'Hail, King Brahmadatta, mine of virtues, I am the husband of the Naga woman you saw in the lotus lake.
517. She was the one whom you whipped there and weeping loudly she came to me and said: 'My lord, I
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