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The man who wished to rid himself of his wife 163
pūjā), but in devotion showing itself in courageous action (sattvika bhakti) (748-768).
Parable of the man who wished to rid himself of his vixen wife 89
The discourse turns to the theme of unreasonable desires, showing by parable that they defeat their own end: A gentleman, Soma, in Devapura, handsome, accomplished, and virtuous, had a wife Rudra, of opposite qualities, yet devoted to her husband. They quarreled so as to resemble a face with an earring in one ear. The husband, reflecting that he could not get rid of her any more than a tree of its creeper, decided to make certain that he would at least be rid of her in another existence. Having heard of a holy bathing place (tirtha), named Kamuka, on the mountain of Parṇa, he went there to die, leaving all he had behind. He jumped from the mountain with the wish that Rudra should not be his wife in another birth. But his wife, who had found out his intention, went there also and committed suicide in the same way, while wishing that she should have the same husband in another birth. The divinity of the tirtha opined that worship is rewarded by the gods, only when unencumbered by wishes. Epecially in asking the Jinendra for dharma (religion) or mokṣa (salvation) one should not harbor hope for personal advantage: it will bear small fruit (769-781).
For vixens see Pañcatantra 4. 6; Kathas. 74. 156; Cukasaptati 46; Jätaka 13. Cf. Benfey, Das Pañcatantra, vol. i, pp. 519 ff.
