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TRANSLATION
221 1063. So he said to her father : ‘Give me your daughter who
has not been affianced I will give you just as much
money as you demand.' 1064. He replied: 'I do not need money and you would be
a very desirable son-in-law but she has been given to
Nāgadatta.' 1065. The city constable went out of the house thinking : 'I
will kill him and day and night went around looking
for opportunities. 1066. Now King Jitaśatru had gone to the horse-riding track,
and when his horse reared his jewelled earring fell off. 1067. He was not aware of that at the time but later on when
he got home he found that it had gone. I have
found that my priceless earring has fallen from my ear.' 1068. he instructed the constable, have a search made for it
at once and bring it to me.' The latter then had a
proclamation made in the city, and 1069. as it was not found sent men outside the city in all
directions and himself went in quest of the earring. 1070. On the eighth day Nāgadatta came along and at sunset,
having fasted, made his way to the Jaina temple in
the garden 1071. to carry out the kāyotsarga by night. As he was looking
at the path he suddenly saw the priceless earring jewel
in the evil radiance of its jewels and gems. 1072. Seeing it as a poisonous serpent to the eye he quickly
turned back and went by another path. Vasudatta at
once noticed this and 1073. thought : 'Why did this Nāgadatta who was walking so
quickly turn back ?' so he went to the spot and saw
the jewelled earring. 1074. Picking it up, the pupils of his eyes and his cheeks ex
panded to fullness by joy he thought : 'I have found -
this great opportunity to inculpate Nāgadatta. 1075. After fasting on the day of the moon's periodic change
he engages in ascetic exercises in empty temples and such places, I will send my men there.
