Life and Stories of Jaina Savior Parcvanatha

Author(s): Maurice Bloomfield
Publisher: Maurice Bloomfield

Page 43

Story of Lalitāñga
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after having nursed them. When the hunter still doubted her, she agreed to take upon herself the yet greater sin of him that gives evil advice to one that asks, or practices mischief upon one that confides. The hunter let her go. When she returned and asked the hunter how she might escape from his arrow, the latter became disgusted with continuously threatening the lives of animals, and bade her avoid his right side and live 6 (168-176).
Story of Lalitāñga, continued Lalitāñga continued his arraignment of Sajjana with pious saws and illustrations, until the latter exclaimed: • O wise man and counselor of perfection, why do not your virtues grant you your wishes? You are like the villager whose mother told him that he must under no circumstances give up wealth once acquired. Then he caught hold of a bull by the tail, and was dragged and killed by him, because, tho people called to him, “let go, let go," the fool would not let go.? Like that fool you have but one idea. If you want to make another bet as to the merits of virtue and vice, there is nothing left but that you should pluck out your eyes. The prince, in passion, agreed (168-191).
They arrived at Çākhāpura and submitted their dispute to some people, who again, as destiny would have it, decided as before. Sajjana then addressed Lalitāñga: • O thou, that are drunk with truth, king among princes, expert in doing good to others, treasury of righteous deeds, tell what you will do now!' Lalitāñga, goaded
*See additional note 1 on p. 183. • This passage contains the root chut: see Lexical notes, p. 232.
*This suggests loosely the anecdotes about letting go the bear, told by Swynnerton, Romantio Tales from the Panjab, pp. 174, 293.