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188 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 651. At twilight then I went there to her and was invited to
lie on the gang-leader's bed 652. You have done rightly to come here for hospitality'
she said, and washed my feet with her own hands. 653. By a stroke of ill luck it happened that the gang-leader
returned to his dwelling. In consternation she said to
me in a low voice. 654. “The gang-leader has come here, get under the bed for
a minute.' I did as she said very quickly. 655. Coming in he sat down on the bed. She said to him :
“Sir, if my wedded spouse comes here what will you do
to him?' 656. Thé robber bandit leader replied: 'I will show him
hospitality and hand you over to him.' At this she
frowned and so he then continued : 657. It was to tease you I said this : if I see him I will tie
him up at once.' She then showed me to him. 658. Seizing me by the hair he dragged me to a pole in the
centre of the house and then beat me with a moist
leather thong. Whilst they were asleep 659. a dog came up and ate the thongs. Finding myself free
I seized the bandit leader's sword and killed him. 660. Gripping her by the hair I dragged her along and said :
'If you cry out I will cut your head off.' Moving
silently we at once 661. hurried out of the stronghold ; but she, pining for her
lover, tore to pieces the threads of her dress and
strewed them on the path as she went. 662. I thought we could stop in a bamboo thicket and go on
after spending the day there so we hid in such a thicket. 663. Following the threads the thieves came along that path
and found us as we slipped out of the bamboo grove. 664. They belaboured me with blows and drove nails into my
head, hands and feet; then they returned taking my wife with them.
