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Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
good deeds they again attained to the world of Brahma, fell thence, and were reborn into their present state, namely, as the children of merchants. Their misfortunes in their present lives were due to karma left over from their lives as Bhillas (225).
Bandhudatta expressed his delight at having met the Lord Pārçva, and having been led by him from vice to virtue. He asked for further instruction, and heard many items of the true religion (saddharmaçāstra), illustrated finally by the following story (192-236):
Story of Crīgupta, gambler, thief, and murderer, who
was ultimately redeemed A merchant, Mahīdhara, enjoyed the favor of Nala, the righteous king of Vāijayanti. The merchant had a son, Çrīgupta, addicted to every vice. On one occasion Mahidhara poured out his heart before the king, but even he was unable to help. Mahīdhara, related that Çrīgupta had broken into the house of a merchant, Soma, and robbed him of his all. To compensate, he offered to give all his own property. The king consoled him, and, when he learned from the people of the city that Çrīgupta had stolen 25,000 gold pieces, he restored them from his own treasury (250). After chiding a negligent watchman, he upbraided Çrīgupta, and bade him return the loot. Çrīgupta denied all knowledge of the theft, whereupon the king proposed resort to an ordeal. Çrīgupta asked who was the complainant; the king assumed the rôle, and appointed the judges. Then Crīgupta checked the action of the ordeal by means of a magic mantra, so that he remained untouched by the fire of the heated ploughshare. The king was desolated by his own apparent injustice as complainant, and declared that he himself must suffer the
