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316 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 334. And even as I looked she filled that grave with soil and
put a funeral urn on it and anointed it and tended it. 335. I watched all this and when she was asleep I went
out and recounted the story to the courtesan Maga
dhasenā. 336. Accompanied by her I returned to RājagȚha and then
having spent some time in pleasure there came back
to Ujjain. 337. My father and mother were cheered by seeing me and
then I went to my wife's house without revealing to
her my mood. 338. When I turned up in the courtyard of the house she asked
me with hypocritically assumed joy : Why were you
so long in coming, my lord ?' Then I replied : 339. 'It is because of you, darling, who asked for the flesh
of the fat-tailed sheep so much time has elapsed and
yet I could not get hold of it. 340. I have failed in my object and so unwillingly with a sad
heart, my dear, I have now come here out of love
for you.' 341. Very well,' she said. Whilst I remained there I saw
that offerings were made daily to that urn with the
best gruel. 342. Then I pondered this in my mind and thought : 'She is
still making offerings to that lover through her infatua
tion.' 343. Then next day I said to her : ‘To-day, darling, make me
a guest-offering with a ghrta-pürna full of lumps of ghee: 344. nor must any of it be given to anyone else until I have
eaten of it.' She agreed saying: 'So be it.' 345. and added : 'Why do you say such a thing, my lord ?
Can any other person be dearer to me than you that
I should give to him first ?'. 346. At the proper time when I had sat down on one side to
eat she picked up in her hand a hot ghyta-pūrnā, the first which was ready.
