Karataka asked - How was that? Damanaka went on - In the city of Kanchanapura lived a king named Viravikrama. As his officer of justice was leading a barber to the place of execution, the latter was held by the skirt of his garment by a certain recluse, Kandarpaketu by name, accompanied by another man, Sadhu (a mendicant), with the words "This barber should not be killed." The king's officers asked why he should not be killed. He said, hear - He repeated - I having touched Svarnarekha. They asked - How is this? The recluse told as follows - I am the son of Jimutaketu, king of Ceylon, Kandarpaketu by name. One day as I sat in the pleasure-garden I heard from a sea-faring merchant, that, on the fourteenth day of the month, there was to be seen on the sea, under a desire-granting tree that appeared then-seated upon a sofa variegated with a ring of the rays of gems and decorated with ornaments of all kinds - maiden, like the goddess Lakshmi, playing upon a lyre. Then I, in company with the sea-merchant, got on board his ship, and sailed for the place. On going there, I saw, as described, on a sofa, the damsel, half submerged. Then charmed with her beauty I gave a jump after her. After that on reaching a golden city, I saw her seated on a couch, in the same manner, in a gold palace, and attended by Vidyadhara women. She too, having seen me from a distance, sent her friend and (through her) addressed me with respect. To my inquiry her friend replied - This is the daughter of Kandarpaketu, the imperial king of the Vidyadharas, Ratnamanjari by name. She has taken this vow - "He who having come to Kanakapattana beholds it with his eyes will be my husband even in the absence of my father". Such is her mind's resolve. Your Honour should, therefore, marry her by the Gandharva form of marriage. So, the Gandharva marriage being concluded I lived there enjoying the sweets of her company. One day she said to me in private - Lord, you may enjoy everything here according to your wishes; but you should never touch this Vidyadhara female, Svarnarekha by name, painted here. Thereafter my curiosity being roused, I touched that Svarnarekha with my hand. Then I was struck by her with her lotus-like foot, though a mere picture, so that I came, and fell in my kingdom. Then being smitten with grief I turned out a recluse and in the course of my wandering came to this city. Here, yesterday, while lying down, at the house of a cowherd I saw - As the cowherd came home in the evening from the liquor-shop kept by his friend, he saw his wife planning something with a procuress. Then he beat the cowherdess, made her fast to a post and went to bed. Then at midnight the procuress, the wife of this barber, again came to the cowherd's wife and said - That noble person, burnt by the fire of your separation, and pierced with the shafts of the god of love is about to die for you. Pained at heart on finding him in that condition I have come here to persuade you. I will then wait here having tied myself to the post; you should go there and return quickly after having acted to his wishes. After that was done the cowkeeper awoke and said to her - Why do you not go to your gallant now? But as she returned no reply, he says, how is it that you, in your vanity, do not even give me an answer! seized a pair of scissors in a rage and cut off her nose. This done, the cowherd again lay down and sank into sleep. Now the cowherd's wife, returning, asked the barber's wife - what the news? The procuress replied - Look here, my face will tell you the news. Thereafter the cowherdess tied herself to the post and stood as before. The procuress, too, took up her nose and having gone home lay there. Then in the morning when this barber asked her for the razor-case, she gave him one razor only. Thereupon, this barber, going into a passion as the whole case was not handed over to him threw the razor from some distance into the house. Upon this setting up a cry of pain and saying 'Without any provocation he has cut off my nose' she brought him to the officer of justice. In the meanwhile, the cowherd's wife being again asked by the cowherd exclaimed - Who, vile wretch, is able to disfigure me who am so very chaste. The eight guardians of the world alone know how free from sin all my actions are. For, the sun and the moon, wind and fire, heaven and earth, water, the heart, Yama, day and night, both the twilights and the deity Dharma - these know the actions of a man.