________________
130
NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
selling wood, which was the means of his livelihood, 4* and how he had gone to the house of a harlot and why he had left her (because of his vow not to enjoy the company of any woman on a full moon day).49 After enquiry,50 and knowing fully well that the statement of Kāṇhada, the wood-cutter, was true,si the king returned the money52 to him and also rewarded him greatly for his truthfulness. Ultimately the king made him the dewan (Pradhān) of his country on account of his good character and trustworthiness.
One day a monk, Dharmaghoşa53 by name, came to him and initiated him as a monk, and began to teach him regularly the eleven Angas and Upāngas, the five Mahāvratas, the five Samitis and the three Guptis54. At last the teachers turned him into a monk.55 Kāṇhada then began to lead the life of a monk, giving up all sorts of worldly pleasures.56 .-
In this way, the poet describes the consequences of good conduct (Sadhu-śīla ), paying very high encomiums on Kānhada.57 Here ends the story of the text.
3. SOURCE OF THE STORY
After the story just narrated, we may proceed to trace its sources. It must be admitted on all hands that it is a very difficult task for us to ascertain the exact source of this story, although from the text58 we come to know that it has been taken from a 'Digambara Kathā-koşa'. But what
48. Verses 96-102. 49. Verses 103-108. 50. Verses 109-112. 51. Verses 113-118. 52. Verses 119-131. 53. Verse 135. 54. Verse 131, 135. 55. Verses 136-138. 56. Verses 139-148. 57. Verses 149-154. 58. दिगपट कथोकोस थी रचियो ए अधिकार। उछी अधिको भाखियो मिछा दुक्कर
Ir 11 (verse no.160.)
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
