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220 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 1050. she replied : “My dear, I have been wounded by this
Nāgadatta and because of this tormenting wound I
cannot live. 1051. Entering through the wicket-gate of my eye into the
temple of my mind he has deprived me unheedingly
of the very precious jewel of good sense.' 1052. The girl said to her : ‘Do not grieve ; he is not difficult
to get ; we will make efforts so that he soon becomes
your husband.' 1053. She went and recounted how everything stood to Nāga
vasū's mother who gave a full account of it to the
merchant. 1054. He replied: What is the trouble? It is proper that
two families similar in standing should be united.''
He went to the merchant Dhanadatta and said : 1055. Sir, to your son the merchant Nāgadatta I will give my
daughter called Nāgavasū : answer me at once without
any reserve. 1056. Then the other replied : 'You have done me a very great
honour, but my son does not want to marry even a
beautiful girl. 1057. He says he will take the vows. Go now and I will talk
to him again. If he can be got to agree by my efforts
I will let you know.' 1058. When the other had gone away he talked repeatedly
with his son who agreed to marry Nāgavasū but no
other woman. *1059. Then the city constable named Vasudatta saw Nāgavasū
going out of her house and thought : 1060. If she opens her eyes then the blue lotuses are ashamed,
if she shows her lips then coral appears pallid, 1061. if she covers her body then gold no longer has lustre, if,
beautiful as she is, she were to lift up her face then
there would be another moon aloft 1062. Covering her face which humbles the lotuses of the grove
by its concentrated refulgence, she does not ... her eyes, I think, out of compassion for them.'
be
