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222 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 1076. He sent his men there and they found Nāgadatta stand
ing in the kāyotsarga, absorbed in ascetic concentration
in a corner of the Jaina temple that stood in the garden. 1077. When they had come back and reported this the city
constable went there and tied the jewelled earring on
Nāgadatta's neck. 1078. Then binding him with ... he ordered him to be
brought before the king who sentenced him to be
executed at dawn. 1079. He had him mounted on an ass smeared with markings
in lampblack as a thief, with an heroic garland of
drops of blood, and then had him led round the city. 1080. After beating the drum the king's crier made a proclama
tion in the royal highway, at the intersections of three roads and at other points : "Let the people know by
listening attentively: 1081. Here before us to-day is the thief who stole King Jita
śatru's earring, caught with the stolen property. To punish the criminal is proper administration, this is
the king's duty. 1082. Therefore the king has brought him to be devoured by
the god of death, and neither the king nor the king's
minister will be at fault in this affair. 1083. This man's evil deeds done by himself will not be par
doned and if any other man do likewise he will meet
the same fate. 1084. Hearing this and similar phrases from this proclamation
the people met together at windows, in mansions, in
the market and on the streets, and said : 1085. This man who has lucky marks on every limb is not in
any way a thief, and this is undoubtedly some con
trivance of the city constable. 1086. One of the women of the city said : “He should be de
livered from this calamity', for she admired him as if he were a brother of the gods and her words originated from sorrow.
