________________
167
THE STORY OF SANKHA-DHAMAKA.
There lived, in the town of Saligrāma, a farmer named 01 Kaņa kūta. He was the guardian of a field belonging to some other farmer. Remaining in the field, he used to drive away biasts eating away corn by blowing his concha. One day, Kaņakūta went, at night, with his concha, for the protection of the field. During night, thieves running away with many cattle from a neighbouring village, came near the field. After a little while, the guardian of the field, frivolously blew the concha. The thieves, on bearing the sound of the concha. under the fear of being followed by watch-men of the town, went away leaving the cattle behind. On knowing that the stolen cattle were left away by the thieves, the owners of the cattle came there in the morning, and took away their cattle to their respective villages. Kaņakūta blew the concha daily, as tisual.
One day, when the thieves were passing that way,' they heard the sound of the same concha. They inquired as to who blew the concha daily. They came to know that the concha was daily blown by Kanakūta and they recognised him as the blower of the concha. Then, saying that, we were driven away by him on a previous occasion, and deceived a great deal, they went to him and binding him hand and foot, they beat him so severely that he became unconscious. The thieves, then, robbed him of whatever he had.
Kanakasénā addressing Jambū Kumāra said, “Dear! While desiring for superior wealth, you may perhaps be unhappy like the concha-blower.
Jambū Kumāra said "I am not stupid like the monkey. You may not be aware of his story, therefore listen.
•
