The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

208
Book XVII
[Kāyaśaṇḍikai’s Story ]
Having accepted alms from Adirai, as detailed above, Maṇimēkhalai
distributed the food in the bowl freely like those good people that
distribute freely of their [153] wealth, earned in the way of virtue.
However much was taken out of it, the bowl showed itself
inexhaustible and proved an efficient means of satisfying the hunger
of those that came for its satisfaction.
Kāyaśaṇḍikai, who was observing this, was struck with wonder, and
making her obeisance to Maṇimēkhalai, prayed of her,
‘Good mother, be so good as to satisfy the hunger that is
unquenchable in me. My hunger is so great that all the food I take,
whatever be the quantity, does as little to give me satisfaction as all
the hills of stone brought and thrown into the sea by the army of
monkeys in constructing the causeway across the sea for Rāma, in
whose form Viṣṇu appeared in the world as a result of the delusion
brought on by the curse of Rishis. Do have mercy and destroy my
hunger.’
Maṇimēkhalai in response took a handful from the bowl and put it in
her open hands. Kāyaśaṇḍikai, her hunger quenched, and therefore
the consequent suffering, recounted her history with folded hands: