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

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Page 210
________________ 184 When the people saw this proof of the truth of the mendicant's saying, they began to root up the stúpa with double zeal. Then, the stúpa having been rooted up, Koņika wheeled round and took the city. At this moment King Chetaka fell into a well with an image of the Jina in his hand. As he was falling he was seized by King Dharana,* and taken to his own city. There he fasted for a month in great exultation, and went to heaven. Thus Kúlaválaka, being devoid of regard for his teacher, lost his asceticism. Therefore meri should be devoted to their teachers. The story of Kúlaválaka, having regard to the displeasing of a teacher, is finished. Now follows the story of Kanakaratha, having reference to munificence. In this very land of Bharata, on the mountain Vaitádhya, is a city named Kanakapura. In STORY OF KANAKARATHA. it there lived a king named Kanakaratha. In him abode these virtues : he was munificent, simple, the essence of courtesy, handsome, and able to assume what shape he pleased. By means of his power of changing his shape he attained all the objects he desired. One night he was roaming about his own city incognito, and there happened to be a play going on in a temple. In it & song was being sung, and in the song the singer uttered the following verse : •Swans are everywhere white, peacocks everywhere have their feathers painted with various hues; Everywhere are birth and death, everywhere does the enjoyer enjoy.' When the Vidyadhara heard this verse, he reflected in his mind : The meaning of these lines is clear: in this world swans are everywhere white, peacocks have everywhere variegated feathers, everywhere are death and birth; but this is not clear, that everywhere do enjoyers enjoy. This is wrong; for a king who leaves his own country does not meet with respect in other lands. A man enjoys the love of his wife in his own home, but not elsewhere. This is * King of the Nágakumáras. See Weber's 'Bhagavati,' p. 211. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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