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JAINA STORIES
did not give up control on his respiration. The son came back and reported to the father. Said the father,
“Surely this fellow 18 a class one rogue He has carefully spread his trap to cheat us We need be very careful about him. So go again, my son, and cut his nose and ears this time. If he is alive, he will give a shriek. If he does nothiog, then we shall be fully assured.
The son did as instructed but Sarana bore even the cut and did neither move nor shriek. Now, the merchant had no doubt that it was a corpse and not a living being So the father and the son dug a ditch, buried the treasure and returned home.
After they had left, Sarapa did his own job He dug out the entire treasure and brought it home.
Days passed. One day, the merchant sent his son to check if the treasure was in tact, but the son discovered only an empty ditch. Very much depressed, he came back home and reported. The merchant said,
"Surely, that one was a cheat and not a dead man. He had very effectively spread the trap to rob us He must be a very strong fellow that he patiently bore the physical pain of the nose-cut and the ear-cut Now, in the city, we must be on the look-out for a man who is without a rose and ears That will be the easy way to detect the thief."
In a few days, the merchant caught the man he was looking for He held him by the hand, took him aside and said,
"You must be a great guy Such a daring act is not possible for an ordinary mortal I koow, man, how you lost your nose and ears”
The man was neither ashamed nor alarmed, nor - did -he strive to hide anything In a very normal tone, he retorted,
"Sır, no pain is high enough to acquire a treasure » “Worthy hero ! May I make you a request ? Whatever
