Book Title: Two Prakrit Versions of Manipati Charitra
Author(s): R Williams
Publisher: Royal Asiatic Society

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Page 236
________________ TRANSLATION Z 223 1087. Another woman said: 'If this young men is killed who captivates the minds and eyes of women the city will be deprived of the jewel among its men.' 1088. Thus amid these expressions of courtesy and respect from the people when he was near Priyamitra's house the cry “Nāgadatta has arrived," arose. 1089. Hearing this shout from the crowd Nāgavasū emerged from her house and saw him decked in the accoutre ments of a condemned criminal. 1090. Nāgadatta caught a glimpse of her, weeping crystal tears, I that resembled a broken pearl necklace, agitated by fear like a young hind. 1091. All his own sorrows were swept away by seeing her thus, and for the first time he became conscious of the unhappiness of separation from her and thought : 1092. 'My heart which is the source lake of this river is now so agitated by fear because of the monster fish of sorrow that waves which are tears arise. 1093. If then somehow or other I escape from this tribulation I will enjoy pleasures together with her for some time. 1094. If not, my determination will be to refrain from the occasions of sin arising from the fourfold aliments. Then the king's bodyguard bore him onward from that spot. 1095. Nāgavasu at home at this moment was engaged in the kāyotsarga, surrounded by her attendants, repeating these words with her lips : 1096. 'Śāsanadevī, let him be saved from the king's torment.' Whilst Nāgadatta who had been taken to the cemetery 1097. was being fixed on a stake for empalement by the king's men that stake was broken by the power of the divinity not once only but a second and a third time. Then the men 1098. started to tie him up but the rope too, was broken three times. They applied to his neck a sword of the colour of the atasi blossom.

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