________________
168
TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MANIPATI-CARITA 410. Wipe away the tears, Śreņika, as one who maintains a very pure righteous conduct, you, rising from hell into Bharata, will in the utsarpiņi era
411. be the first tirthankara, the lord Śrīpadma.' At these words he was horripilating like a dhārā-kadamba when rain falls from a cloud.
412. Again worshipping the Jina he asked: 'Is there any means by which I may avoid going to hell?'. The Blessed Lord then said:
413. 'If you make the chief cook, the brahmin woman Kapilā reverently give food and drink to the sadhus and adore them in heart
414. or if you prevent Kālaśaukarika from killing buffalo even for one day then you will not go to the hell world.' 415. Then having worshipped the lord the king set out for the city. Suddenly in a pond lying by the edge of the road to the city he saw
416. an acolyte catching fish and had him called to his presence, saying: 'I will give you something to make up for this, cease from this evil task.'
417. Then as he entered the city he saw a Jaina nun big with child roaming about the market and calling her he took her to his house.
418. From fear of opprobrium falling on the Jaina religion he himself took care of her giving her employment in his household. Then the darduränka god became manifest there.
419. Tossing his loose ear-rings and wearing ornaments fashioned to his own inclination the god stood forth, possessing an excellent and resplendent body, and said:
420.
421.
'Blessed are you, king, in that even the gods in their abodes of paradise praise and esteem your virtues with increased zeal for virtue.'
'Gods are not seen without reward; this is a phrase widely current in the world. Therefore I accept this necklace and these two spheres,'
