181 Analytical Account of the Pancha Tantra. ' 



mendicant appeared. Manibhadra immediately recognized the figure of 

 his dream, and snatching up a stick, struck, him on the head; on which the 

 figure changed to gold, and fell upon the floor. The banker took the gold 

 to an inner apartment, desiring the barber not to mention to any one what 

 he had witnessed. The barber promised secrecy, and went home, but could 

 not help thinking of the occurrence. These naked mendicants, he mut- 

 tered to himself, are all of one fraternity, and if one is changed into gold by 

 a i"ap on the pate, why should not any other be changed in a similar man- 

 ner ? I will therefore invite their principals to my house, and then with a 

 few strokes of a cudgel, I shall surely get a quantity of the finest metal. 

 These ideas he revolved in his mind the rest of that day, and all the night. 

 When morning came, he went to the Vihdr* and facing to the north, 

 perambulated the Jina\ three times. He then went on his knees, and 

 holding up his hands with reverence, lifted up the edge of the curtain, re- 

 peating in a high tone this stanza, " Glory to those Jainas who possess the 

 only true knowledge ; and are thus enabled to traverse the wild ocean of 

 human passions." And again, " The tongue which glorifies, and the mind 

 that is dedicated to Jina, are alone to be praised, with the hands that are 

 busied in his adoration." Having uttered these, and similar invocations, he 

 repaired to the chief of the convent, and kneeling at his feet, received his 

 blessing. The barber then, in an insinuating tone, requested the favour of 

 his coming, with his principal sages, to a slight recreation at his house. The 

 principal replied, " How now, son ; what is it you say ? Are we Brdhmans, 

 think you, to be at any one's beck and call ? No, no ; at the hour when we 

 go forth to gather alms, we enter the mansions of those votaries only, who, 

 we know, are of approved faith. Depart, therefore, nor reiterate thine 

 offence." The Barber replied, " most venerable Lord, I shall obey, and 

 do as you command, but I beg to mention, that I have a store of excellent 

 cloths, for covers to our holy books; and of the materials for writing, which 

 will be fitly disposed of, when time may serve." So saying he went home, 

 and provided some stout bludgeons, which he hid in a corner ; he then went 

 back to the convent, and took his station at the gate ; and, as the different 

 ascetics came forth, he addressed them as he had spoken to their principal. 

 Tempted by the wrappers for their books, they all listened to him favour- 



* The name of a Bauddha or Jaina convent. 



f The deified sage who is the object oi Jnimi ivorship. 



