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32
 
AVAVTISUNDARI KATHA SÄRA
 
waylay the wayfarers; one day he came upon (an Arya) widow
accompanied by a young couple. The widow wept and cried
out, 'Ah! Dirghadarśin! Ah! my son Nityogra!'. When the
robber asked the woman who she was, she said, 'Dīrghadarśin,
the minister of the Vidarbha country was my husband and
Nityogra and Mahogra, our (twin) sons. An astrologer told
Jalandhara, the king of Vidarbha, that my son would one day
rule over the country, The king abducted Nityogra even as a
boy. Fearing the safety of Mahogra, the younger son, we
sent him to our uncle's house. The king came to know of this
and sent for Acyutaka, my husband's sister's son and ordered
that Mahogra who was under his custody, should be put to
death. Acyutaka revealed the royal command to his wife
and told her that he would not do the dastardly act. But his
wife asked him to carry out the order without delay. My
husband who happened to be there at that time and overheard
their conversation, suggested to his nephew that he would
avert the disaster by showing the king a head made of clay
resembling the head of Mahogra. Acyutaka agreed to the
proposal and did so. Then seeing that my husband was
disconcerted at his evil act, the king sent for him one
night with a view to putting him to death in secret. When
my husband went to see the king, the king gave out that
my husband tried to kill him and, then had him put to death.
 
(Av. Sāra V. 50-65; Av. pp. 238-41; end missing)
 
Acyutaka then sent me and my son to my father. On
the way we were attacked by robbers and I missed my son. I
wandered about helpless in search of him; and thinking that the
robbers had killed him, I went to a nearby tree intending to take
my life by means of a noose. Happily for me I saw my son sit-
ting on the tree, and he told me that the robber who carried him
away was bitten by a serpant and that he had climbed up the
tree for fear of the snake. Then with my son I went to my,
father's house but learnt that my father had been killed by
robbers. Having lost all my relatives I sank into a sea of
sorrow and Mahogra was the only prop of my life. He has
now grown into an young man and I got him married to this
girl. Good Sir! We are now passing through the forest and
are frightened by you.' Kolāhalika hearing the tale of the
widow fell at her feet and said, 'Mother, I am your son
Nityogra.' Then he took his mother with him; and with the