Book Title: Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories
Author(s): C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi

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Page 203
________________ 177 Kála, and others, and threw King Crenika into prison. He gave him a hundred lashes every forenoon, and a hundred every afternoon, and ordered that he should have nothing to eat or drink. Then Queen Chillaná concealed beans in her hair, and with great difficulty took them in for him to eat; Chandrahásá also managed to take wine in her hair, and when her hair was washed a hundred times, all the water became wine. Owing to the strength given him by the wine, the king was able to endure the whippings.* One day there was born to that Konika a son, of the name of Udaya, by his wife Padmávatí. On one occasion Konika was eating with the child in his lap. The child's urine fell into the vessel of rice. Koņika did not put him off his lap for fear of disturbing him, but ate the rice mixed with urine. He said to his mother, who was near him : 'Mother, did anybody ever love his son so much?" His mother said: You monstrous criminal, listen! When I was pregnant with you, I had a longing to eat your father's flesh. The king satisfied my longing. When you were born, I abandoned you in an enclosure of açoka-trees, saying that you were a villain. When the king heard it, he himself went to the enclosure and brought you back; so you were named Açokachandra. Then a dog tore your finger. It became a whitlow. So he gave you the name of Konika. When the swelling on your finger ripened, you suffered a good deal of pain from it. Your father held that finger in his mouth, though streaming with matter; so you did not cry. To this extent did he love you.' When Konika heard this, he was full of remorse. He said: 'A sorry return I have made to my father.' So he immediately went off in person with an iron club to break the fetters. In the meanwhile the guards said to the king: Konika is coming in a very impatient mood, with an iron club in his *This story is found in the Amitáyur-dhyána-sútra,' pp. 161 and 162 of vol. xlix. of the Sacred Books of the East.' The queen Vaidehí supports Bimbisára in a very similar way. This is mentioned in the Thusajátaka.' (Fausböll, vol. iii., p. 338.) The Buddhists give the name of Ajátaçatru to the king whom the Jainas call Konika, or Kúņika. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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