Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

Page 97

The man then replied, “Sir, I am a poor Bania. My name is Mamman. I have a pair of bullocks at my place. Now one of the horns of a bullock remains to be made. So I want to construct it. Hence this labour."
The king wondered what kind of bullocks he had! “Look, how he shivers on account of the wet breeze and cold,” he thought! The king wished to get the horn constructed for the Bania. So he asked him, “How much does it cost to construct a horn?"
The man replied, “Well, I can't have the correct estimate of the expenses involved. Better come and see it. I want the fourth one to be made exactly as the remaining three horns are."
The king then went to the house of Mamman the next day. He entered the house and after crossing many rooms came to a dark room. When this room was opened, it soon brightened. There were a pair of bullocks made of gold and studded with precious gems. The horns, hoofs, front, nasal parts etc. were studded with precious gems. The eyes, too, looked real, though made of gems.
The King wondered at the beautiful images of the bullock. He said to the Queen, "Well, our royal treasury does not contain such precious gems. How can I pay for what he wants to be made? I can't afford it!"
Then the King asked Mamman, “How will you get the horn made?" Mamman replied, “Sir, my sons go abroad to earn money for this horn. We don't waste money. Neither do 84