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TRANSLATION
179
543. Now there was a herd of goats there and a female who was in kid said to her husband, a good he-goat : 'Remove my pregnancy longing
544. by giving me one sheaf from the load of reaped barley.' He replied: This barley, my dear,
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545. is fodder for King Brahmadatta's horses and if I were to take even one straw of it I should die.' She replied: 'If you do not fetch it I
546. shall at once die.' He answered: If you want to die then die I shall live and have other wives.' 547. She continued: This king, my lord, is dying for the sake of his wife, you are unloving and inconsiderate, shame on such a man.'
548. Again the he-goat said: 'He is a fool, this king, who is going to perish for the sake of his wife. Are there not other women?'
549. Comprehending the nature of their remarks and replies King Brahmadatta thought: 'Why should I abandon life which is hard to attain, for the sake of a wife?
550. By nature he is a beast, but I also by infirmity of reasoning am a beast'. Straightway he threw his golden garland on the neck of the goat
551. Then turning back the king arrived at his palace and said: 'I am not dying; you do what you like.'
552. Then too the queen herself turned back from death. So you, elephant rider, just shake off this woman:
553. let her do what she pleases, there will be other women for you.' Hearing this Queen Cellana thought: 'What the elephant groom says is right;
554. if I die alone what will that have meant to Śreņika? There are many other fine women for him.
555. As I have not carried out austerities I shall if I die go to an evil fate.' Thus she refrained from death and passed her time with pleasure to herself.
