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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
99
words, "he returned to religion, like an elephant spurred on by the goad."15
XII
THE STORY OF THE FATAL PURSE in the Nijjutti to the Dasaveyāliya we find the
story of the fatal purse
Two poor brothers are returning from a business journey with a purse full of money. On the way, each of them plans to kill the other, so as to be the sole possessor · the money. They are, however, ashamed of their
tentions, and confess to each other, whereupon they throw the purse into the pond. It is swallowed by a fish, the fish is bought by the sister of the two brothers and the purse found by the maid-servant in the fish's stomach. A quarrel arises between the maid-servant and the woman, in the course of which the woman loses her life.16,
XIII
THE MONKS OF DUBIOUS CHARACTER It is in the same Nijjutti we find the monks
of dubious character:
"O Monk, your cloak has so many folds." "Yes, it serves me as a net when I catch fish." "You eat fish?" "I eat them along with my brandy." "You drink sweet brandy?" "Oh yes, with the harlot." "What, you go to harlots?" "After I have crushed my enemies." "You have enemies, then ? "Only those whose houses I rob." "You are a thief, then?"
15. The extended form of this legend in the Commentary of
Devendra, has been edited and translated by Charpentier
(ZDMG 64, 1910, 307 ff.) 16. Leumann in ZDGM 46, p. 602.
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