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162
JAINA STORIES
"But sir, this does not stay with impious people
"Don't you worry It will stay with me If you do not wilfully surrender it to me, I shall use force to acquire it and put you to severe torture"
The minister handed over the pitcher to the king The king placed it in a guarded vault The guards were ordered to keep an all-time vigil
Nest day, the minister commanded the wand to get back the pitcher and the wand proceeded at once The guards were no match for the wand So the pitcher was again restored to the minister The king now saw that the pitcher would not remain with him He was sorry at the plight of his men of the guard who had been severely beaten by the wand
The minister now applied the chamara and cured the men of their wounds Then he said to the king,
So, now, sir, you recognise the merit and power of virtue"
But the effect on the king was short-lived One day be said to the minister,
'Minister ' What you have demonstrated was a sort of magic power, and I do not think it has anything to do with religion, Even sinful men can practise magic However, I shall be convinced of your power if you surrender the pitcher, the wand, the chamaro and the umbrella, go out to some unknown land in the company of your wife and come back affluent."
The minister was a simple-hearted fellow. He did not see through the king's motives and agreed to abide by the kings wishes He surrendered all his things to the king and set out in the company of his wife Walking non-stop they arrived at a city named Nagpur which was near the sea coast They halted at the park There they came to know that a merchant from that city, Sagardatta by name, was soon going out on a voyage to distant islands and
