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Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
Allegory of the four friends on the treasure island of
human existence Āryadatta has now completed his sermon on the virtues of pājā, as guide of householders into a happy state; he now issues a final warning that the blessing of holy religion is difficult to attain, and that men, when they have reached the treasure island of human existence,40 should not waste their capital there as did the merchant Mūdha in the following allegory:
In the city of Çrīvasantapura lived four merchants, friends of one another: Cāru, Yogya, Hitajña, and Mūdha. They went on an expedition to a jewel island across the sea, Ratnākara (“ Jewel-mine ') by name. Cāru, staid and cool, a skilled appraiser, accumulated a complete assortment of jewels in their five different colors (788). Yogya also, being instructed by Cāru, did some business, and got to know spmething of the art of appraising jewels. And, tho he was rather flighty, being given to pleasure and dalliance, he managed to accumulate some treasure. Hitajña did not himself know how to judge jewels, swallowing whole whatever any one told him. He also gladly listened to Cāru, but nothing remained in his mind, because he was foolish, and given to running about to plays and other amusements. So he was cheated by rogues, and collected glass and other worthless stuff (794). Mūdha, finally, knew nothing himself, did not ask Cāru, did not hear what he said, or attach importance to it. A fool, who thought himself clever, he accumulated only conch-shells and other rubbish, and lost much wealth. Cheated by rogues, and not relying upon his friends, he
* According to a familiar belief of the Jains, the state of man is the most favorable stepping-stone to nirvana, more so than the state of god.
