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TRANSLATION
177
518. had gone away from you into the Bhutaramana forest to the abode of the yakṣini Ladhikā for the sake of your offering.
519. I bathed in the lotus lake and whilst I was bathing there King Brahmadatta came along carried away by his horse.
520. And there in that spot he repeatedly made advances to me, my lord, but I replied: I want no man but my husband.'
521. Then he grew angry and kept whipping me with a crackling sound. Somehow or other through your grace I made my escape more dead than alive.'
522. After hearing what she said I came here in burning anger thinking: To-day this inhabitant of earth will cease to exist here.'
523. Meanwhile when you were asked by the queen what had happened to you in the forest I paid careful attention
524. and I understood from what you related to the queen all my wife's actions. Pardon me this my fault.'
525. The king said: 'What fault is yours, the disposition of whose heart is very pure? The fault is that of this deceitful woman.
526. Her mind is as unstable as the ears of an elephant, her behaviour in love is as unsteady as the lightning's flash; she will make a man believe whatever her mind lists.'
527. The god replied: An encounter with a god is not without fruit, so choose a boon.' Then the king said:
528. I revel in the wealth of elephants and horses and chariots which are the glory of the six regions of Bharata; yet indeed the encounter with a god is not in vain so I ask
529. that in my country adultery, theft and poverty, untimely death and famine should not exist.' The god then said:
530. King, this is typical of a man who is bent on doing good to others, bravo! bravo! but choose some other boon, king.' The king then said:
