Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

Author(s): C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi

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ever goes there ;' but, through fear of death, no one would go there. Then Nágadatta, wishing to benefit his fellowcreatures, being a hero of unparalleled audacity, climbed up on a branch of the banyan, and made his way there. He repaired to the temple of the lord Nemi, and, after worshipping him, sounded the gongs. Their sound made all the bhárunda birds fly up, and the fanning of their wings caused the ships to start. Then Nágadatta, having of himself acquired inward peace,* determinedł on an eight days' course of self-mortification. At this moment a wandering hermit arrived to convert the eaters of human flesh. Nágadatta prostrated himself before the hermit with great devotion, and said: 'Reverend sir, give me a vow of starvation. The hermit said : 'You have still some relics of action that must have enjoyment for their fruit.' Then the hermit converted the Vidyadhara, I and forbade the eating of human flesh, and flew up into the air. The Vidyadhara gave his own daughter to Nágadatta, and Nágadatta married her. The Vidyadhara gave Nágadatta sciences, spells, potent herbs, wealth, gold, jewels, and other things to his heart's desire, and preparing an air-going chariot, himself placed Nágadatta in it, and sent him home. When Nágadatta was thus reunited to his father and mother, he heard the good news that his ships had arrived. Then Nágadatta had a temple of the Jina built ; he set up in it an image of the Jina, and he went three times a day to the temple that he had had made. There he performed worship to the image of the Jina, and did other virtuous acts. Here ends the story of Nágadatta having reference to the eight-day ceremony.
Now follows the story of the great hermit Sanatkumára, having reference to ascetic mortification :
* Sámáyika. See note 81 in Dr. Hoernle's translation of the • Uvásaga Dasáo.' + Pratyákhyátam. This word generally means "rejected.'
It is clear that there must be a lacuna somewhere. The Vidya. dhara is now mentioned for the first time.
$ Vardhapanakam.