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

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 341
________________ 328 TWO PRAKRIT VERSIONS OF THE MAŅIPATI-CARITA 481, Thus in the Maṇipaticarita which is like a receptacle for the water formed by the desire for release from existence the parable of the tame koil bird, the seventh, has been told by Kuñcika. 482. Then Maņipati said : How do you say that. I, a great muni, who know the Jina's teaching, am like a tame koil bird ? 483. Words must be spoken after reflection as spoke those excellent ministers, possessed of discrimination and endowed with fourfold intelligence.' 484. Kuñcika said : How was this ? ' Then Manipati replied: In Campā there was of old a needy guildsman named Dhanapāla and 485. another newly admitted guildsman, Dhanadatta. They each had daughters, Dhanaśrī and Kanakaśri. One day these friends 486. went to a tank to wash. Leaving her jewellery there Kanakaśrī started to bathe in the tank. 487. The other girl, having no ornaments because of her poverty, seized the jewellery and went home; nor would she hand it over when called on. 488. A case was brought in the royal court and the ministers told Dhanaśrī: 'Put on the jewels.' No sooner done than they knew 489. that these were not hers because they were either not put on in the right places or, when put on in the right places, had no proper lustre. 490. Then they told Kanakaśrī: 'You put on this jewellery now.' She put it on and everything was in its place, 491. and very lustrous. Seeing this they pronounced : 'This jewellery belongs to her and not to the other girl.' 492. The case being thus decided Dhanapāla was punished by the king whilst Dhanadatta, dismissed with respect, went home. 493. Thus in the Manipaticarita which resembles a sprinkling with the very potable water of tranquillity the tale of the ministers, the eighth, has been told by the muni Manipati.

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384