Note 3 — Chapter XXXVI

And in the meanwhile a merchant named Harshagupta, who had arrived from Támraliptí,3 having heard of that event, came there full of curiosity. And in his train there came a servant of the name of Śílavatí, who was devoted to her husband; when she saw what had taken place, she said to him—“I will touch this elephant with my hand: and if I have not even thought in my mind of any other man than my husband, may it rise up.” No sooner had she said this, than she came up and touched the elephant with her hand, whereupon it rose up in sound health and began to eat.4 But when the people saw the elephant Śvetaraśmi rise up, they raised a shout and praised Śílavatí, saying—“Such are these chaste women, few and far between, who, like Śiva, are able to create, preserve and destroy this world.” The king Ratnádhipati also was pleased, and congratulated the chaste Śílavatí, and loaded her with innumerable jewels, and he also honoured her master, the merchant Harshagupta, and gave him a house near his own palace. And he determined to avoid all communication with his own wives, and ordered that henceforth they should have nothing but food and raiment.