Karkanda Chariu

SR No.: 034918
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kankamar Muni
Publisher: Karanja Jain Publication
Publication Year: 1934
Total Pages: 364
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 33 MB

Page 359

KARAKAŅDACARIU
was asked at her consecration, she did not tell of her pregnancy, for fear they might not grant ( her ordination ). Later, when the matter was found out she told the truth to the abbess. Being kept in concealment she gave birth to a child and exposed it in the cemetery, together with a ring bearing a name and a jewel of a blanket. And afterwards the child was taken by the guardian of the cemetery and banded over to his wife. They named the boy Avakinnaya ( Castaway). And this noble lady became a friend of this Candala woman. And this noble lady was questioned by the nuns : “ Where is your child ?” She said: “It was stillborn and therefore left ( in the cemetery ) by me.” The boy grew up there. He played with the boys. He said to the children there : " I am your king: pay me taxes." He was seized with the dry scab. He said to them: "Scratch me." Then they gave him the name of Karakandu. And be was very fond of this nun. And she gave him sweetmeats or whatever delicate alms she obtained.
When he had grown up he guarded the cemetery. For some reason two ascetics passed by there. At once they saw at one place a stick in a coppice. One of them know the signs of sticks as follows: A stick with one joint they praise; those with two joints cause quarrel; those with three joints are fraught with profit; those with four joints entail death. A staff that is five-jointed wards off quarrel on the way; & six-jointed one is desease; a seven-jointed health. A stick that has a base of four finger's breadth and riss half a finger's breadth and has seven joints wards off mad elephants. A staff of eight joints is failure, one of nine productive of fame, but one of ten joints truly is all prosperity. A stick that is crooked, worm-eaten and spotted and bunchy and burned and dried up at the top is to be carefully avoided. Having massive joints, shining with colour, and of one colour, a staff provided with such marks is to be considered an excellent staff.”
Thereupon he said: "He who will take this staff will be king. But one must wait for it till it grows four inches more: then it is serviceable.” This was heard by that Candala lad and by a Brahman. Then that Brahman dug out the four ioches of the staff that had not yet shot up (out of the ground ) and cut the staff. And that lad saw him and snatched it away from him. He was taken before the Court by that Brahman. He said: “Give me my stick.” He answered: “ It has grown on my cemetery; therefore I will not give it.” The Brahmau said: “Take another." He did not want to. The boy did not give it. The boy was asked by them: “Why do you not give it ?" And he said: “By the power of this stick I shall be king." Then the people of the Court laughed and said: "When you do come to be king, then you
862 -