A deity uttered this verse—
“In a word, O fool, thy footprints and those of the elephant are not alike. Give up this useless attempt. Thou wilt only derive weariness therefrom.” [[342]]
[2] Of the Kāndakīllaka or Symplocos racemosa. See Böhtlingk-Roth.—S. [↑]
XXXIX.
THE GUILTY DOGS.[1]
In long-past times, King Brahmadatta came to the throne in Vārāṇasī, at a period when the land was blessed with riches, profusion, prosperity, and crops, and had a large population. Now there were two dogs, Gaṇḍa and Upagaṇḍa by name, which used to gnaw the king’s horse-gear. Once when King Brahmadatta was going to take the field against the Liććhavis, he ordered his ministers to inspect the horse-gear. When they had done this, and found that it was all torn and tattered, they said to the king, “O king, the dogs have gnawed the horse-gear to pieces.”
The king said, “Honoured sirs, if this is the case, I give up the dogs altogether.”