________________
. EMANCIPATION OF PARŠVANÄTHA
prison. Dhanadatta has come to his sister's son, Bandhudatta, for the sake of a balance of a crore of rupees of a ransom. Traveling (on the way), he was quit by me yesterday."
66
Bandhudatta thought: Alas! What has Fate done! The one in whom I had hope, has fallen into an ocean of calamities. Let it be so. Staying right here, I shall see my uncle. After I go to Nāgapuri, I shall get the money for him quickly." So reflecting, he stayed. On the fifth day his uncle came with a caravan, with few companions, very distressed. Dhanadatta sat under a tamāla tree in the garden of the Yakṣa's temple and was seen by Bhanudatta.
In order to test him, Bandhudatta said: "Tell from where you came here and where you are going." Dhanadatta said: "I have come from Viśālā and I am going to the city Nagapuri, good sir." Bandhudatta said: "I too am going to Nāgapuri, but who of your family lives there? Tell." He said, My nephew Bandhudatta is there," and Bandhudatta replied, "Bandhudatta is a friend of mine."
66
413
After ascertaining that he was his uncle, Bandhudatta stayed there without disclosing himself and they ate and slept together. At dawn Bandhu went to the river for bathing and saw that the dust of the ground in a thicket of kadamba was tinged with the color of jewels. He dug up the ground with a sharp horn and came to a copper box filled with jewels and ornaments. After taking the box secretly, going to Dhanadatta, and telling him how it had been obtained, he said politely: "I have obtained all the news from you, a traveler. Accept this box because of your merit, uncle of my friend. After both of us have gone to Viśālā and paid money, we will release our men from the king's imprisonment and then we will go to Nāgapuri."
With these words, Bandhudatta set the box down in front of him and became silent. Dhanadatta said: "Shall we see your friend Bandhudatta because of having the men released, good sir? After that, he is the authority." Bhanudatta bowed and announced who he was. Dhanadatta said, "Oh! how
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
