Two Prakrit Versions of Manipati Charitra

SR No.: 007017
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: R Williams
Publisher: Royal Asiatic Society
Publication Year: 1959
Total Pages: 384
Language: English, Prakrit
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 319

306 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 200. the sådhu Śiva went out to wait on his guru and saw the
sūri standing there in the kāyotsarga, his neck adorned
with the necklace. 201. He stood there for a moment with fear in his heart,
then came indoors and said: 'Bhaya' alarmed and
forgetting the words of the recitation. 202. Then Abhaya asked : Whence is this fear of yours?'
The muni replied: What happened aforetime is by
us remembered.' 203. Tell me.' Then the sādhu began his narative: We -- were the two sons of a merchant in Ujjain, Siva and
Sivadatta by name, both poor. 204. In order to acquire wealth we set out for the province
of Saurāşțra and with great toil amassed abundant
riches. 205. Putting this into a purse we carried it, turn by turn,
tied to our loins as we proceeded towards our city. 206. But whichever of us had the money in his hand kept
thinking: 'I will kill the other. Thus we arrived
outside the city. 207. There I threw the money which I was holding at that
moment into a big tank as I knew the evil disposition
generated by it. 208. And I said to Sivadatta : Alas, this money is unprofit
able pelf for the sake of which there came upon me a
sinful intention towards you.' 209. He said the same thing and approved the throwing of
the money into the water of the tank : and so with
one accord we both went moneyless home. 210. But the purse was swallowed by a fish and this, being
caught by a fisherman, was sold into the hand of my
sister while still alive. 211. When she went to the kitchen to prepare hospitality for
us and began to cut it she saw the purse there. 212. Mistrustfully she hid it immediately in her lap, and by
a stroke of fate this was perceived by our mother,