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JAINA STORIES
“Now, the brahmin sat thinking what to do about the man in the well, and after much consideration, he decided to help him out The monker was after all an animal, thought he, and he could hardly adjudicate on the value of a man So he cast the rope again and helped the man out When Sıva asked him who he was, the man said, 'I am a goldsmith from Mathura I came here on business but slipped into this well. There is a tree inside, and I saved myself with great difficulty by holding a branch of the tree Later, the monkey, the tiger and the snake joined me In distress, we forgot our natural enmity and lived in co-existence I shall never forget the service you have rendered to me If you ever come to Mathura, please give me a chance to be your host'
"Thereafter, many years passed. Once Sıva remembered the monkey's tords of caution againt the man and decided at once to take a test. He set out on a pilgrimage and reached Mathura The monkey was there He racognised his benefactor at once and aceorded him a cordial reception He placed before him sweet fruits As he proceeded from there, he sat the tiger and the the tiger too recognised the brahmin in a moment He at once killed a prince who had come there for hunting, took out his ornaments and gave them to the brahmin.
"Now, Siva come to the goldsmith As the smith saw the brahmin coming, he recognised him but tred to avoid him But Sıva stood just in his front and asked if he recognised him or not In a very cold manner, the smith said that he found it hard to place bım Siva Tecounted the past story and said, 'I have come on an invitat.on from you, my dear friend'
"But the smith showed no improvement in his manners, and Siva too vould not move out He sat there and said, 'Can you help ge in an affair ? 'Perhaps I may,' said the smith in differently the brahmin then took out the
