________________
60
CHAPTER THREE
Story of the two bulls (306-340)
Now in the city Mathura, there were formerly a merchant Jinadāsa, a layman, and his wife, Sadhudāsī. They, pious, renounced the ownership of animals and bought daily curd,86 et cetera from herdswomen. One day a certain herdswoman brought very excellent curds. Sādhudāsī bought it and told her graciously: "You must not take your milk, curds, et cetera anywhere else. I myself will buy them and give you any price you wish." The herdswoman, delighted, did SO daily. Sādhudāsi also favored her with the gift of many clothes. great affection developed between these two, like sisters.
A
One day, there was a wedding in the herdswoman's house. She invited the merchant and his wife to the wedding and they said: "We can not go, for we do not have the time, lady, but take from our house anything that is suitable for the wedding." So saying, they gave clothes, rice, ornaments, et cetera. Because of the articles they gave her the wedding was very fine, the occasion for special elegance of all his herdsman-relations. The cowherds, delighted, brought the merchant two beautiful three-year old bulls, named Kambala and Sabala. The merchant did not accept the bulls and the cowherds tied the bulls to his door against his will and went away. Such is the affection of cowherds.
Jinadāsa thought: "If I turn these bulls loose, then they will certainly be yoked to the plow, et cetera by ordinary men. Here they will have poor care because of uselessness. Oh ! What shall I do? Into what a dilemma I have fallen from the affection of fools!" With these thoughts the compassionate merchant fed the bulls with clean grass, et cetera and trickling
water.
The merchant had taken the pauṣadha vow87 and fasted on the eighth and fourteenth days; and read aloud religious books
86 307. Curd is not an accurate translation of dadhi. It is the whole milk sour and coagulated.
87 320. To live like a sadhu.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
