Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

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

Page 68

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obtain a couple of ghatikás* time to devote to one's religious duties. So what profit is there of this royal service ?" The king in his despondency said : “ Then, what am I to do ?” The minister said : “Give back the seal again to Priyankara with every mark of respect.” The king went to the minister's house and conciliated him. The two ministers began to entertain a strong mutual regard. Finally they both took a vow. Subhankara said to Priyankara : “At the favourable moment you must admonish me.” Priyankara consented. Then they both went to heaven. Here is the god, the soul of Priyankara, that caused you to be banished from your kingdom, and you are the soul of Cubhankara, Amarachandra by name.'
Thereupon that god appeared in visible form in the very place where they were. The god said: 'I came to admonish you: you must not entertain unfavourable thoughts with regard to the queen. The forms that appeared were assumed by me.' When the king heard this, recollection of his former birth arose in his mind. The god dismissed the king to his place. Amarachandra also, having established his son in his kingdom, and observed his vow faithfully, obtained salvation. Here ends the story of Amarachandra having reference to meditation.
People who offer worship to the mighty Jina with unbroken full
dry grain, Obtain an unbroken series of pleasures As a couple of parrots performing worship to the Jina with dry
grain Obtained unbroken everlasting happiness. Here follows the story of the couple of parrots, having
reference to the offering STORY OF THE COUPLE OF PARROTS.
of whole grain. I In this very land of Bharata is a city named Siddhapura. In a park outside the city is a chaitya sacred to the
* Some say that a ghatiká is twenty-four minutes ; some consider it equal to a muhúrta, or forty-eight minutes.-Monier Williams, 8. v.
+ This translation is conjectural.
I In the text there is an explanatory note on the above verses which I have omitted.