Book Title: Two Prakrit Versions of Manipati Charitra
Author(s): R Williams
Publisher: Royal Asiatic Society

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Page 332
________________ TRANSLATION 319 372. She had picked up a sweetmeat in her hand and gone outside when Priyadarśanā said to her : What have you got with you ?'. 373. She replied: 'I am taking a sweetmeat to the king.' Priyadarśanā took the cake in her hands which were smeared with poison, 374. then handed it to the other and she to the king; but he breaking it in two gave it to Priyadarśanā's sons thinking : 'they are young.' 375. They ate it and were drugged by the poison but were cured by the king who gave them an infusion of jewels to drink. Then they came home. 376. Sāgaracandra then said to the cook : 'How did the sweetmeat become poisoned ?' She replied: 'I do not know 377. but their mother rubbed it for a long time in her hands.' Then he upbraided the queen-mother saying: 'Ah, wretched woman, had I died 378. without embracing the creed of the Jina I should have become a fitting recipient for an evil fate. Why did you not take the kingdom when it was offered to you previously? 379. So now take the kingship and bestow it on your own sons.' Thus having relinquished the kingship and what went with it Sāgaracandra became a muni. 380. In a company of sādhus at the feet of rightly acting sūris having studied the twofold teaching he soon became proficient in the sacred law. 381. Now one day sādhus from Ujjain came there and were asked by the sūris : Are the sādhus alright there ?' 382. Yes ', they replied, but the sons of King Municandra and of his chaplain are causing annoyance to them.' 383. Hearing this report Sāgaracandra asked leave of his sūri and made his way to Ujjain in order to enlighten them. 384. He abode in a dwelling in the midst of good sādhus and when the time for eating arrived he took his platter to gather alms

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