Mālavikā and Agnimitra 2.15_24

2.15_24

9. F pañcāṅgābhinayam.
10. A E F 0gatā pravātam.
12. F' a-o-'F a-apareitosa.
16. B miśraviṣkambhakaḥ, E F miśraviṣkambhaḥ-
. tataḥ praviśatyekāntasthaparijano mantriṇālekhahastenānvāsyamāno rājā .
rājā . anuvācitalekhamamātyaṃ vilokya. vāhatava kiṃ prapadyate vaidarbhaḥ .
amātyaḥ. ātmavināśam .
rājā . nideśamidānīṃ śrotumicchāmi .
amā° . idamidānīmanena pratilikhitam . pūjyenāhamādiṣṭaḥ. pitṛvyaputro bhavataḥ kumāro mādhavasenaḥ pratiśrutasaṃbandho mamopāntikamupāgacchannantarā tvadīyenāntapālenāvaskandya gṛhītaḥ. sa
tvayā madapekṣayā sakalatrasodaryo mocayitavya iti . tanna vo na viditaṃ yattulyābhijaneṣu bhūmibhareṣu rājñāṃ vṛttiḥ . ato madhyasthaḥ pūjyo bhavitumarhatei . sodaryā punarasya grahaṇaviplave vinaṣṭā .
tadanveṣaṇāya prayatiṣye . athāvaśyameva mādhavasenaḥ pūjyena mocayitavyaḥ . śrūyatāmabhisaṃdhiḥ.
mauryasacivaṃ vimuñcati yadi pūjyaḥ saṃyataṃ mama śyālam..
moktā mādhavasenaṃ tatohamapi bandhanātsadyaḥ .. 7 ..

9. F pañcāṅgābhinayam.
10. A E F 0gatā pravātam.
12. F' a-o-'F a-apareitosa.
16. B miśraviṣkambhakaḥ, E F miśraviṣkambhaḥ-
Then enters the king, his retinue standing apart, attended by the minister with a letter in hand.
King: (Looking at the minister who has read the letter aloud) Vāhatava, what course is the ruler of Vidarbha taking?
Minister: His own ruin.
King: I wish now to hear his command.
Minister: This is what he has now written back: “His Honor has instructed me: ‘Your cousin Prince Mādhavasena, who was promised an alliance and was coming near to me, was ambushed and captured on the way by your frontier guard. Out of regard for me, he must be released by you along with his wife and sister.’ It is surely not unknown to you what the conduct of kings is towards rivals of equal birth. Therefore, His Honor ought to remain neutral. As for his sister, she was lost in the tumult of the capture. I shall make an effort to search for her. But if His Honor definitely requires Mādhavasena to be released, let the agreement be heard:
If His Honor releases my brother-in-law, the Maurya minister, who is held captive, / then I too will immediately release Mādhavasena from prison.” 7