________________
210 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 927. bound a moist thong about his head and drove wedges
into it so that his eyes burst forth and he attained
kevala. 928. I bow down before the sage Metārya who, in connection
with the curlew's offence, out of compassion for living beings did not betray the curlew, esteeming his own
life of little worth. 929. I bow down before the sage Metārya who did not deviate
from his self-control when his two eyes burst forth
from his head through the pressure on it. 930. Since that excellent muni had rightly endured the hurt
inflicted on him he attained infinite knowledge and kevala. 931. Going forth from the city that stalwart man died by
prāyopagamana, spurning food and the body and
karma and the rest. 932. I bow down to the sage Metārya, the holy man who was
released from hundreds of wanderings through birth and death and who annihilated hundreds and thousands
of incarnations. 933. That goldsmith's servant girl overturned a load of wood
which grazed the curlew and the bird, being scared a,
vomited the grains. 934. Seeing this the goldsmith was seized by fear of King
Sreņika so together with his wife and children he tore
out his hair and took the vows. 935. When King Śreņika learned of this occurrence he des
* patched his bodyguard with orders to arrest the
goldsmith together with his household. 936. When they reached the house they saw he had taken the
vows and brought him along in that condition. Seeing
them all the king thought in his heart : 937. 'Even though a great crime has been committed an
exemplary blow should not be struck.' But he said :
If you break the vows I will have you killed.' 938. Thus admonished he was released and went to the feet
of a good guru ; full of remorse he pursued intently the interest of another life.
