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230 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 1168. a thorn broke off in the foot of the leader of the herd
and he could not walk. One of his cows went to a
cultivated field and 1169. picking up a man with her trunk put him on her shoulder
and with discretion made her way to the bull elephant.
The man inspected the elephant's foot, 1170. opened it with a knife, extracted the thorn and tied it up
with a medicinal herb. The elephant whose foot had
been healed took him to a thicket of the forest 1171. and handed him pearls and ivory which were tied on
elephants, male and female, that could carry burdens, and he was transported to his village with this
wealth. 1172. Thanks to the elephant he became opulent and famous.
One day because of his greed for the village he informed
the king 1173. of the track leading to the elephant herd which was
captured by the king in its entirety. You, reverent
sir, have acted likewise by ruining your benefactor.' 1174. The muni Manipati said: Kuñcika like the lioness you
must exercise careful discrimination.' He replied :
Who was the lioness, reverent sir ?' 1175. Said the sadhu Maņipati: 'There is a mountain Vaitādhya
rich with very famous gems and jewels and endowed with resplendent qualities through being the dwelling
place of beautiful goddesses. 1176. In one of its caves dwelt a lioness who had destroyed
thousands of living creatures and exalted in the pride
of her strength, together with her friend, a hind. 1177. Now one day a wretched jackal named Vitatha greedy
in searching for meat came there in order to get what
could be picked up easily. 1178. The lioness said to her: Welcome to you, be at ease,
dear friend, you shall be like a sister to me.' 1179. Getting up from child-bed with difficulty the lioness
went out of the cave in order to go hunting and the hind fell into a deep sleep.
