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THE STORIES
25 davvåvāe donni u vāņiyagā bhāyaro dhana-nimittam
vaha-pariņa ekkam ekkam dahammi macchena nivveo This is explained in Haribhadra's commentary by a story that coincides in every detail with that of the MPC. It omits only the pious conclusion : that the brothers seek refuge in the Jaina initiation after performing their mother's funeral rites.
The commentary of the Dharmópadeśa-mālā relates the same story in explanation of verse 16 of the text which follows a similar classification :
pāveņa kilesena ya samajjio tahavi āvayā-heu attho samtāva-karo nidarisanam bhāuno donni The narrative seems to have appealed so strongly to the author of the BKK that he has used the theme twice with almost identical details. In story No. 28 (Süramitra-Śūracandrādikathānaka) two brothers who have gone to seek their fortune in Simhaladvīpa find a precious jewel ; and in No. 100 (Dhanyamitrādi-kathānaka) two brothers go to a distant country and return laden with precious stones. In both the episode of the - matricide is bowdlerised : mother and daughter like the two sons have murderous thoughts but in the end all take refuge in the Jaina initiation.
The close accord between the various versions of the story is noteworthy and it is interesting to remark that the Dharmôpadeśa-mālā uses the same rather rare word naulaga that is found in the MPC.
B. The narrative of the muni Suvrata
The basic elements of this tale are found with widely divergent details in a number of versions, both Buddhist and Jaina.
In Jātaka 63 (Takka-jātaka) the Bodhisattva living as an anchorite saves the life of a beautiful but wicked woman and by her is seduced from his asceticism. The village where they live is overrun by robbers who carry her off. The Bodhisattva waits in the hope that she will escape and return to him ; instead she sends a message begging him to come and rescue her. When he arrives she bids him stay till nightfall. The robber comes back and is asked by her: 'What would you do if your rival were in your power ?' Then she shows him the Bodhisattva
| SR No. | 007017 |
| Book Title | Two Prakrit Versions of Manipati Charitra |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | R Williams |
| Publisher | Royal Asiatic Society |
| Publication Year | 1959 |
| Total Pages | 384 |
| Language | English, Prakrit |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 9 MB |