Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

SR No.: 016059
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 288
Language: English
Classification: Dictionary & Dictionary
File Size: 15 MB

Page 133

107
C
against me, put me to death.' When the prince heard this speech, he said to her: 'My beloved, you are innocent; do not be afflicted in your mind.' While the prince was saying this he himself removed the flesh, and washed her lotus-like mouth. In this way the witch went on continually bringing disgrace on her, and the prince, being deeply attached to her, continually went on palliating the disgrace. One day King Hemaratha said to his ministers: 'Alas! alas! every day there is a man killed in my city; do you know nothing about it?' They said: King, this is not the handiwork of a woman; this is all we know.' The king was filled with anger, and said: Then let all these sectaries* be banished from the city, whatever these men know or do not know.' Then, by the order of the king, all the sectaries, except the Jaina hermits, were banished. Now, at this very juncture the witch Sulasá came into the king's court, and said to the king: 'Royal sir, I had a dream last night, to the effect that a certain deity said to me: "To-morrow the king will expel all the sectaries, so you must go to him and tell him that the wife whom his son brought from the forest is certainly a Rákshasí, and that all this that has been done is her doing, so he ought not to illtreat the sectaries. Because the boar eats the sugar-canes the buffaloes are smitten." If, royal sir, you have any doubt about the truth of my statement, go to-night and look for yourself.' The king said, 'I will look,' and dismissed the witch. When night came, he made Prince Kanakaratha sleep near him, on the pretext that he had a pain in his limbs. While the prince was lying near his father, he thus reflected with himself during the night: Alas! now the disgrace of my beloved will be made manifest, since, on the one hand, it is not lawful for me to disobey my father's orders; on the other hand, my wife will be disgraced by my obeying them. On one side is a tiger, on the other a river.' Then, during that very night, Sulasá, the witch, smeared, as before, the
Páshandinah. The word has not generally a bad meaning with Jains. See Dr. Hoernle's translation of the Uvásaga Dasáo,' note 52.