Life and Stories of Jaina Savior Parcvanatha

Author(s): Maurice Bloomfield
Publisher: Maurice Bloomfield

Page 89

Story of King Vikrama as a parrot
reached the mountain of Cri, beheld Siddheçvara, obtained his favor, and was accepted as a pupil (127).
Now a certain Brahman had been on the spot a long time ahead of Vikrama, hoping to acquire the same science. But the very devotion he showed became a plague, because of his constant importunity. On the other hand, the Master was pleased with the king's devotion, which was coupled with tact and disinterestedness, so that he begged Vikrama to accept from him the Art of entering another's body,' in discharge of the debt imposed by the king's devotion (133).
"
Upon hearing this, Vikrama, indifferent to his own interests, perceiving the disappointment of the Brahman, begged the Teacher rather to confer the science upon the Brahman. The Teacher said: Do not give a serpent milk to drink! He is unworthy, and with an unworthy person the science works great mischief. Think how, once upon a time, a Master of Magic, seeing the bones of a lion, made the body of the lion whole, and undertook to give him life; how, warned by his people, he nevertheless, in his madness, gave him life; then the lion slew him. Notwithstanding this warning the king fervently embraced the Master's feet, and prevailed upon him to bestow the science upon that Brahman. After that, out of respect for the command of the Master, he also accepted it himself (144).
Vikrama, in the company of the Brahman, returned to Avanti, confiding to him on the way his own history. Leaving the Brahman outside the city, he entered alone, in order to observe the state of his kingdom. Noticing that the people within the palace were upset, because the
75
This refers to a familiar fable: see Benfey, Das Pañcatantra i. 489; ii. 332; Hertel, Das Pañicatantra, p. 131.