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JAINA STORIES
one man, 'To-day is the festival day, I want to put on the golden champaka necklace that you placed round the neck of: the king's elephant So I must have it This is my long-- cherished desire. If you do not fulfil it, I put an end to my
life'
So said the man, 'This is an impossible request that you are making The necklace is at the treasury, and if the king comes to know that I have taken it out for you, do you think I shall remain alive? I cannot do that
"But the lady would listen to no argument, So the other man said, 'My friend ! One who listens not to sweet words, or understands not what is good to self or to another, needs be censured. There are occasions when softness does not work Then you must take strong steps I remember the story of a hermit who had collected some palasa seeds and sown them The seeds duly sprouted and there grew up a fine tree But unfortunately, the tree yielded no flower So he set fire to the tree and did not look at it again, One - day he saw that the tree had not only revived but was full of flowers This is also the nature of human beings They respond not to sweet words, bit to toughness, So, my friend, you should do the needful Even the world-monarch. Brahmadatta did like that by following the advice of a mere goat'
'How did it happen?' asked the first man, The second man then warrated his story, 'Brahmadatta was the king of Kampilgapura. Once he was out on an escursion to the forest regions in the company of many horsemen But somehow he was separated from them and was in the thickest part of the forest, Being tired, he sat beneath a tree Later, his men joined and all of them returned to the city
" 'At night the queen said, 'Sire' What ner thing(s) did you come across in the escursion The king said, 'It was a , nice experience After finishing my bath, as I sat on the
