The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c11.s1.19

c11.s1.19

6. (L., 12). At this moment, we are told, Sudhana, the Royal Prince of northern Pàñcâla, is passing with a hunting party : Halaka perceives him, and, in order that his captive may not be forcibly taken away, presents her to him. We believe we must twice recognize the hunter in the two persons respectfully stooping down between the prince and the fairy, who are standing : in the first row he is offering his captive; in the second he receives the reward for it. Leemans was wrong in speaking of « a few women of rank » : Manoharâ is the only person of her sex. It goes without saying that, as in our stories, love springs up immediately between the young people.