The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

205 - Adirai’s Eminence in Chastity
and would return with the mercantile fleet of Candradatta, the
overseas merchant. Adirai returned home and was constantly doing
such good deeds as would hasten the return of her husband.
Śāduvan, on the contrary, having reached the island, had fallen fast
asleep out of fatigue under the shade of a tree. Having sighted [151]
him, the Nāgas approached him and woke him up gleefully, believing
that they would make a good meal of him.
Śāduvan, however, having had occasion to cultivate their language,
spoke to them in their own language to their great surprise. They took
him to their leader. Śāduvan found him and his wife in a cavern,
much as a bear and its mate, surrounded by pots for brewing beer and
dried bones emitting smell of the most offensive kind.
Talking to him for a little while, Śāduvan managed to prevail upon
him to the extent of creating a good impression. To the enquiry how
he came there, Śāduvan narrated what had happened.
The leader ordered immediately that he might be provided with
plenty of meat and drink, and a young woman for his companion.
Pained at the ignorance displayed, Śāduvan declined his kind
hospitality. Surprised at this refusal, the Nāga leader enquired angrily
whether there was anything that pleased men more than women and
food, and demanded to know if Śāduvan knew of any.
‘Intoxicating drinks and the taking of life have been condemned by
people of higher views. The death of those that are born, and the birth
of those that die are really phenomena like wakefulness and sleep. As
those that do good deeds obtain Heaven, and those that do evil reach