Two Prakrit Versions of Manipati Charitra

Author(s): R Williams
Publisher: Royal Asiatic Society

Page 348

S.
335
TRANSLATION 567. In Rājagļha there was of old a principal guildsman named
Kāştha. His wife was Vajrā and their son was Sāgara
datta. 568. In that household there were a parrot named Tundika
and his wife, a mynah called Madanā and the merchant's
favourite cock who had fine markings. 569. One day the merchant Kāștha set out somewhere on a
trading voyage and entrusted to his wife his whole
house with its stock of money and valuables. 570. But as soon as the merchant had gone that unworthy
wife, abandoning decency, set her mind on lechery, being
infatuated with a temple brahmin. 571. Madanā, seeing that brahmin going in and going out
every day at an unseemly hour, with jealous- mind,
screeched in a raucous voice : 572. 'Who is this who comes to our master's house at an
unseemly hour, who is weary of life that he does not
fear our master.' 573. The parrot restrained her, saying: 'Madanā, keep
silence here about this business : whoever is loved by
Vajrā is indeed our master.' 574. But Madanā replied: Wretch, you are solicitous of your
own life and when an infamous thing is seen in our
master's house you overlook it.' 575. The parrot said: 'She will murder you,' but Madanā
would not desist and so the wicked woman killed her
by wringing her neck 576. One day two sādhus arrived there at the house for alms
. and one noble muni turning to the other said this : 577. Whoever eats the head of this cock which is here, and
which has lucky markings on every limb, will soon
become a king.' 578. The brahmin who happened to be there though out of
sight overheard this, so he then said to Vajrā : 'Give me the flesh of the cock.'