Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

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

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Instead of doing the hermit a good turn, we have done him an injury.' Then they both joined to drive away the bees; and at that very moment, the effect of all former acts of injury to living beings, which had suffering for a result, having been destroyed, that hermit obtained limitless knowledge. Then the four kinds of gods came there, and in succession praised the kevalin;* and then King Jayasúra and his consort said to the hermit: 'Prince of hermits, forgive our fault.' Then the hermit said: 'Do not be afflicted in your minds; every soul suffers the consequences of every act that it commits. But the person who, beholding a hermit defiled with dirt, exhibits loathing, becomes, on account of the sin of that act, an object of loathing in birth after birth, for
'Those men are not really defiled who are defiled with dirt, mud, or dust;
Those who are defiled with the mud of sin are truly defiled in this world.'
When Queen Crutimatí heard this speech, she was terribly afraid, and said: Revered sir, I, wicked woman that I was, felt loathing for you on a former occasion;' so again and again she clung to the hermit's feet and begged his forgiveness. The hermit said: 'My good woman, do not be afflicted. By thus asking forgiveness you have destroyed the whole effect of your unholy deed; but in one birth you will have to suffer the due consequences of your action.' When they had heard this explanation, and afterwards an exposition of the law, Jayasura and his consort returned to their own city. Then, after some time had elapsed, both of them took a vow. They died, and were born in Saudharma. When the period of his life in the world of the gods had expired, the king fell from heaven, and became a king of the name of Simhadhvaja, in the city of Surapura; the queen's soul became his wife, by name Madanávalí. Owing to attachment in the previous life, that Madanávalí became dearer to the king than any
* One who had obtained unlimited knowledge. The four kinds of gods are bhavanavaï, vánamamtara, jotisa, and vemániya.-Weber, 'Bhagavatí,' p. 203.