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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
115
none of them can read anything in it, but each one pretends that he can read it, and praises the clearness of the script.30 Moreover, Mahīpāla is the only man who can weigh an elephant and also can tie up a post from the shore. Finally, of course, Mahīpālā becomes a monk and a saint, and attains to release, after having lived to the age of 500 years.
XXVI
THE FAIRY-TALE OF THE MAIDEN GARDEN-BEAUTIFUL
from Kathā-kosa of unknown author :
This maiden has a wicked step-mother, who makes her do all kinds of heavy work. Once when she has led the cows out to pasture, and has fallen asleep, she is awakened by a black snake, which begs her to protect it from the snake-charmer. The girl protects the snake, which then asks her to wish for something. She says, “Make a shade above my head, so that I can mind the cows in comfort." Then the snake conjures up a beautiful garden which accompanies Garden-beautiful wherever she goes. In this garden the king finds her one day, falls in love with her, and makes her his queen. The step-mother lies in wait for her, so as to make her own daughter the queen, but the snake rescues Garden-beautiful from all dangers. 31
XXVII STORIES OF FOOLS AND TALES OF LIES
from Dharmapariksā of Amitagati :
Among the first-named category the most interesting is the story of the four fools who meet with a saint, who greets them. The fools begin to quarrel as to who it was
30. Parallels from universal literature are given by Hertel, 1.c.,
p. 77, Note 2 31. Tawney, I.c., p. 85 ff., where many parallels from fairy-tale
literature are pointed out, among others No. 11 (“Brüderchen und Schwesterchen") in Grimm, Kinder-und Hausmärchen.
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