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568. And as he looked fixedly at the large numbers of kinsfolk
and friends and servants and children there arose in him a memory of his former incarnation and he collapsed
in a swoon. 569. His sons who were full of compassion brought him round
by sprinkling water and fanning him and he wrote in
characters on the ground: 570. 'I am your father, through the power of karma I have
reached this condition, behold me.' They wept :
What a plight father is in.' 571. Again he asked, writing down the words : “My sons,
was the agreed money given to you by the king or
not?' 572. They replied: 'We asked the king for it but he asked
to whom was he to give it since the man who was
to have received it was dead.' 573. The monkey fell into a rage : 'Look at the king's wicked
conduct. He brought me to my death but did not
fulfil the bargain made with me. 574. By some stratagem I will seize this necklace.' Whilst he
was waiting looking for an opportunity one day 575. at twilight Queen Cellanā went down to the asoka grove,
to a wide lotus pool full of clear water, 576. and having deposited on the head of a servant girl a
casket filled with ornaments in which was the precious necklace she had taken off, she enjoyed herself by play-.
ing in the water. 577. The monkey standing on a lateral branch of the dense
aśoka tree very gently took the necklace without the
girl's knowledge. 578. When the queen had bathed and come out she put her
various ornaments on her body, but as she did not
find the necklace she shouted a great deal. 579. Then Queen Cellanā reported this to the king who had
a proclamation made in the city by sounding the drums everywhere :
