'My lord,' answered the queen, 'you should swallow it merely as physic in order to save your life.' The king then ate the onion, and the worm died, passing out of the intestines[1].
THE DOTAGE OF KING ASOKA
The king resolved to give a thousand millions of gold pieces to the Master's service, and when far advanced in years had actually given nine hundred and sixty millions. In the hope that the vow would be completed before he died he daily sent great treasures of silver and gold to the Kukkutârâma monastery at the capital. In those days Sampadi, the so11 of Kunâla[2], was heir-apparent. To him the ministers pointed out that the king was ruining himself by his extravagance, and would, if permitted to continue it, be unable to resist the attacks of other monarchs or to protect the kingdom.
The prince, therefore, forbade the treasurer to comply with the king's demands. Asoka, unable to obtain
- ↑ Fa-hien (ch. xvi) notes that the inhabitants of Gangetic India, did not 'eat garlic or onions, with the exception of Chaṇḍâlas (outcastes) only.' The prejudice exists to this day. The high—easte-people perceive in onions a fanciful resemblance to flesh meat. This story is from the Kumâla. section of the Divyâradâna in Burnouf, 'Introduction,' p. 133.
- ↑ The Jain legends represent Sampadî (Samprati) as a great patron of the Jain church. Nothing authentic is known about him. The legend of Asoka's dotage is given by Burnouf, 2nd ed., pp. 381 seqq. Compare the Ceylonese story of 'The Last. Days of Asoka' in chapter vi, ante, p. 245.
