History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c13.s2.15

c13.s2.15

The terrified Pūraṇa took to flight. On his way he was met by a hermaphrodite (paṇḍaka), who disrespectfully asked him where he was going. He replied that the time had come for his departure from the body, his faculties being somewhat impaired. The sun, he said, had given him a thirst, and he asked the whereabouts of the nearest pond.² The hermaphrodite, addressing Pūraṇa by uncomplimentary epithets such as śramaṇ’-adhama and hīn’-asat-puruṣa, pointed to a nearby lotus pond. There Pūraṇa tied a pot full of sand about his neck, jumped into the water, and was drowned.