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PREVIOUS B)RTHS OF PĀRSVANATHA
359 village." Marubhūti, staying where he was, saw what should . not be seen, but did not do anything hostile, fearing people's censure. He went and told everything to King Aravinda. Intolerant of evil conduct, he gave instructions to his guards:
“Kamatha, committing a crime, must not be killed because he is the son of the house-priest. After seating him on a donkey with mockery, he is to be banished.”
After seating him on a donkey, they expelled Kamatha, his body spotted with mineral-mixtures, accompanied by drums sounding forth harshly. Watched by the townspeople, his head bent, unable to retaliate, Kamatha went to the forest, with a desire for emancipation. Then he became an ascetic under the ascetic Siva and Kamatha began fool's penance in the forest. 325
Marubhūti suffered remorse: “Shame on what I did, that I told the king about my brother's stumbling conduct. This stumbling of mine was greater than his stumbling. I shall go now and ask forgiveness of my elder brother.” With these thoughts, he asked the king and, though restrained by him, went to Kamatha and fell at his feet. Recalling the former disgrace at that time, Kamatha angrily raised a big stone and tirew it at his head, as he was bowing. Taking it up even again, Kamatha threw the rock on him injured by the blow, as well as (throwing) himself completely into hell.
Second incarnation as elephant (56-108) Dying from the injuries from the blows, in a state of painful meditation, he was born an elephant, the leader of a herd on the Vindhya mountains, tall as Vindhya. Varuņā, blind with anger, died and became a cow-elephant, wife of the same lord of the herd. Happy from unbroken pleasure, the lord of the herd plays with her especially on mountains, in rivers, et cetera as he liked.
325 50. I.e., foolish kinds of penance that produce no results See III, p. 224, n. 285.
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