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218 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 1027. but with his five arrows Mohana, Soşaņa, Tāpana, Un
mādana and Māraṇa, that girl at once fell a victim. 1028. After making offerings to the Jina with leaf cuttings
derived from jasmine and after chanting the praise of
the Jina she went home looking at Nāgadatta. 1029. Then Nāgadatta looking at the offerings in the shape of
leaf cuttings of various forms fell into a bewilderment
such as he had not known before. 1030. He asked his companions : 'Do you know whose daughter
she is ?' They replied : ‘Friend, we do ; 1031. she is the daughter of the merchant Priyamitra of this
town and of his wife named Nāgaśri; she is called
Nāgavasū and she is skilled in the arts. 1032. Descriptions of her beauty, high qualities, good behaviour,
intuition, accomplishments and virtue are sung by
people in other lands. 1033. What else is to be said ? A beautiful and accomplished
girl fashioned by the creator with intent mind cannot
be described by one mouth. 1034. And the popular view is just : when one's mate has
qualities that resemble one's own inner nature fate
has achieved its end ; let us join you two.' 1035. Nāgadatta said : Do not say such a thing. I did not
ask out of passion but merely from a desire to know. 1036. I shall abandon sensual joys which are a cause of many
misfortunes, lead both to pleasure and pain, and are adverse to spiritual development and with equable
mind shall take the vows. 1037. So saying, with his companions he arrived at his house.
From that time forth Nāgavasū kept him fixed in her
heart and 1038. losing the desire for food and drink and sleep and betel
and ornaments she grew thin through thinking about him just as wanes the moon's radiance in the dark fortnight.
