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CHAPTER SEVEN
Birth as Asitākṣa (67) When his life as Airāvaņa was finished, the soul of the three-staved ascetic fell and, after wandering through births, was born as a king of Vakşas, Asitākşa.
. Incarnation as Sanatkumāra (68-406)
His parents (68-73) Now, in Jambūdvīpa in Bharataksetra in the country Kurujāngala, there was a city Hastinapura. There Aśvasena was king, by whom the circle of the earth was covered with an army of horses; and the circle of his enemies was subdued by his rounded sword. In him, the Mt. Rohana of the jewels of virtues, there was not the least atom of a fault, like a water-worm in milk. Śrī stood on his sword, as if to perform a very difficult task, with a desire for good fortune, thinking, "I am like straw compared with him." He experienced great delight when beggars had come and he was depressed in accordance with his desire to give when they asked for little. His chief queen was named Sahadevi, in beauty like some goddess who had come to earth.
His birth (74–77) When it had enjoyed Sakra's rank for some time, its life completed, Jinadharma's soul descended from the first heaven into her womb. Sahadevi saw at once the fourteen great dreams, the elephant, et cetera, entering her mouth. At the right time she bore a son marked with all the marks, with a wealth of peerless beauty, the color of real gold. Then the king gave him the name of Sanatkumāra at a great festival which gave joy to the world.
Childhood (78–84) The child, his body fair as a piece of gold, delighting the eyes of the people like a young moon, gradually grew up. Passing from lap to lap of kings, he looked just like a harsa going from lotus to lotus. Even as a child, just
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