Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 92

NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
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223. Then fourteen years passed by, during which that Saddālaputta, the servant of the Samana, sanctified himself by many exercises in the moral restraints (and so forth, as in 8 66); and when he was in the middle of the fifteenth year, at the time of the midnight hour (as before, SS 66– 69, down to where it is said that) in his posaha-house, he lived in conformity with the teachings of the Law which he had received in the presence of the Samana, the blessed Mahāvira.
224. Then one day in the presence of that Saddālaputta, the servant of the Samana, at the time of the midnight hour, there appeared a certain deva.
225. Then that deva, brandishing a large sword of dark blue lustre (and so forth, as in S 95), spoke thus to Saddälaputta, the servant of the Samana. (Here it should be related, how the deva inflicted on him exaetly the same persecutions as on Chulanīpiyā; only that he cut up each of his sons into nine lumps of flesh; and so forth, as in SS 129-134, down to where it is said that) he slew his youngest son; and having done so, he bespattered his body with his flesh and his blood.
226. Then that Saddālaputta, the servant of the Samana, showed no fear (as above,-8 96, down to remained engaged in the meditation of the Law.
227. Then that deva, observing that Saddālaputta, the servant of the Samana, showed no fear (and so fortłı, as in $ 96), spoke thus for the fourth time to Saddālaputta, the servant of the Samana: “O ho, Saddālaputta, thou servant of the Samaņa, who desirest what no one desires (as before, $ 95, down to) if thou doest not interrupt thy practice of the virtues, then I shall this day carry forth out of thy house that wife of thine, Aggimittā, who is well affected towards the Law, fully conversant with it, and passionately devoted to it, and who patiently bears both pleasure and pain; and having done so, I shall slay her before thy eyes, and then cut her up into nine lumps of flesh, and then boil her in a cauldron full of a liquid; and having done so, I shall be-spatter thy body with her flesh and her blood, so that agonized (as above, $ 95, down to) thou shalt be deprived of thy life.”
228. Then that Saddālaputta, the servant of the