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TRANSLATION 1015. Still less then are excellent homeless monks, averse from
sensual pleasure and devoid of thirst for wealth, likely
to lust after a heap of jewels' .... 1016. The layman Kuncika said : ‘Reverent sir, who was this
excellent disciple called Nāgadatta ? ' In his presence
the muni narrated the following story : 1017. In the city of Benares there was a merchant called Dhana1018. datta, of spotless virtue, right thinking and compassion
ate, of purest conduct, knowledge and intuition, ready to do favours, and a childhood friend of King Jitaśatru,
who had conquered the armies of all his enemies. 1019. He had a wife called Dhanaśri, rich as the Rohana moun
tain in jewels that were purest virtues, and they had a
son conversant with right measures and standards, 1020. courteous, handsome, upright, grateful, devoid of vices,
compassionate, eloquent, ready to do favours, a joy to . : the hearts of the people. 1021. called Nāgadatta. Having taken the lesser vows he did
not wish to marry even girls of excellent family and
beauty. 1022. One day after going with friends to an all-seasons sylvan
arbour which resembled a celestial grove and was full
of merriment, and taking his pleasure in the lotus pool, 1023. he arrived within the temple of the Jina which was lofty,
had numerous columns and various paintings, was endowed with manifold beauties and stood in the
middle of a garden. 1024. There was visible an image of the Jina, like a jewelled
lode-stone or like a sight to attract the mind of a · learned man, fashioned as it were from adamantine
: cement. 1025. Then he saw a girl, elegant, surrounded by numerous
friends, resembling a nāga princess, making an offering
to the Jina. 1026. She looked at him, the pupil of her eye averted in a side
glance and somewhat restrained by bashfulness, and seeing the god of love walking by without his bow
