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170 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MANIPATI-CARITA
435. The water of a drain he thought to be pure and fragrant and drank of it; he ate food that was unpleasanttasting and putrid, imagining it to be the best ;
436. and a heap of thorns he believed to be the finest cotton wool. Then the wretched man died and went to the Apratiṣṭhāna hell of the seventh mansion.
437. When the worldly funeral had been celebrated the people said to Sulasa: Accept your father's place,' but he, being afraid of sin, refused to.
438. The people of his household said: 'We will share whatever sin you wish and will take it upon us: kill one buffalo with your own hand
439. the remainder of your retinue will kill the others.' Then said Sulasa: Bring me at once an axe.' It was brought by the people of the house.
440. Taking it Sulasa cut his thigh and fell on the ground weeping; he said to his household: Take this pain and share it.'
441. The people said: 'How can another's pain be taken ? ' Then Sulasa said: 'How can sin which is the cause of reincarnation in hell be taken over from one's household?
442. Whatever act, profitable or pernicious, a living being does here in this existence, he himself enjoys its fruit in another world.
443. Therefore do not, a prey to passion and hate, kill innocent creatures, do not go to an existence in hell, extremely terrible and full of misery throughout.'
444. Then Sulasa having enlightened the people of his household pursued the peerless religious duty of a disciple that is rooted in righteous conduct.
445. The necklace with the eighteen links was for Queen Cellana, whilst to Nanda Śreņika gave the two circular spheres.
446.
'Am I like a child that you give me a child's plaything?' she exclaimed in anger and hurled the two spheres against a pillar so that they were broken.
