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TRANSLATION
329 494. So, disciple Kuñcika, sādhus are like the ministers, and
being without passion or hate or delusion they say
nothing false. 495. Again Kuñcika replied : Maņipati, an ingrate like you
there is none save the brahmin. Just listen to his story.' 496. A certain needy brahmin having taken an image of
Durgā made of wood wandered round asking alms
and in time became very rich. 497. Then he took the image into the forest and threw it
away. So later on did you act by me in stealing my
money. 498. In the history of the good sådhu, Maṇipati which is like
a lotus pool of compassion, the tale of the brahmin,
the ninth, has been told briefly by Kuñcika. 499. Then said the muni Manipati: 'Do not say such a thing
disciple, but be impartial and listen to my tale. 500. King Jitaśatru in Benares had a very dear friend, a
merchant named Dhanadeva whose wife was Dhanaśrī. 501. Their son, Nāgadatta, was extremely devoted to the
doctrine of the Jina. One day when he went to the
Jaina temple he saw a maiden named Nāgavasu. 502. She too saw him and fell in love with him. When she
reached home her father whose name was Priyamitra
learned of the incident and 503. gave her to Nāgadatta ; however he did not espouse her
as his mind was set on asceticism but she, being in love, held to him as if she were a woman tied to a
husband. 504. The city constable saw her and asked for her but was
refused, being told : 'She has been given to Nāgadatta,
how can I give her to you?'. 505. Then he began to search for some opportunity to ruin
Nāgadatta. Now by some chance the king's ear-jewel
was lost. 506. It was sought for but not found. However the layman
Nāgadatta as he was going to the Jina's temple in the twilight saw it as it had fallen on the road.
