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TRANSLATION
337
591. But the latter, being terrified at the thought of the
strangling of his loved one, thus addressed the merchant
who kept on asking : 592. 'You, master, ask me insistently but she terrifies me
greatly. So what shall I do, being betwixt the devil
and the deep sea. 593. Once liberated from the cage and settled on the roof-tree
of the house the parrot recounted the whole aforetold
story, whatever he had seen. 594. Then taking leave of the merchant the parrot went to a
place where he wanted to go, and the merchant, having
now a distaste for riches reflected thus in his heart : 595.' 'Enough of this household life. I shall take the initiation
in the sacred law prescribed by the omniscient Jina, giving away my money and abandoning the delusion of
the household life.' 596. So he received the initiation but Vajrā from fear of the
king went to Campā with the brahmin and remained
there nor did she know that her son was king. 597. By divine intervention the muni Kāştha, now adept in
enduring hardship, as he wandered about arrived at
Campā, 598. and there, whilst making his round in quest of alms, he
came to Vajra's house and was recognised by her as the
muni who had been the merchant Kāştha. 599. He will make known my transgression to the people
in the city here. Let me act quickly in such wise that
he may be banished somewhere. 600. So she gave him loaves and similar food with jewellery
hidden in them and when he had gone she at once
shouted : 'Thief, thief.' 601. As he was apprehended by the constable and brought to
the king's residence he was seen by the nurse and at
once recognised. 602. Then, falling at his feet, she began to weep. The king
said : 'Mother, why do you weep without cause ?'
