________________
RĀMA'S EMANCIPATION
339 Then Vegavati's mouth became swollen from the anger of the gods. She was rebuked severely by her father when he knew her transgression against the sādhu. Terrified by her illness and her father, she said in a loud voice to Muni Sudarśana before all the people: 'You are entirely blameless. This same sin was falsely alleged. against you by me myself, master. Pardon me, ocean of forbearance.' After hearing this speech, the people again worshipped the muni. From that time Vegavati was cured and she became a laywoman.
. When King Sambhu had seen her, beautiful, he asked for her (in marriage). Śrībhūti replied, 'I will not give her to a false believer.' Sambhu killed Śrībhūti and enjoyed her by force. May I be able to kill you in another birth,' she cursed him. Released by Sambhu, she became a mendicant under Aryikā Harikāntā and, when her life was completed, went to Brahmaloka. When she fell, by the power of the nidāna she became Sītā, Janaka's daughter, for the destruction of the Lord of the Rakşases, who was Sambhu's soul. Because of the false accusation of a sin against Muni Sudarśana, she was falsely accused by the people here. A
After wandering through births, Sambhu's soul was born as the son, named Prabhåsa, of the Brāhman Kušadhvaja and Savitri. One day he became a mendicant under Vijayasena, practiced severe penance, enduring trials. He saw Kanakaprabha, lord of Vidyadharas, start on a pilgrimage to Sammeta, magnificent as Indra. He made a nidāna, “May I have such magnificence as he because of this penance.' After death, he was born in the third heaven. After falling, he became Rävaņa, lord of Khecaras, your elder brother,201 who had made at that time a nidána for the magnificence of Kanakaprabha. The Brāhman, Vājñavalkya, who was the friend
201 72. He is talking to Bibhişaņa. Rāvana is not usually called a Khecara.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org