________________
330
CHAPTER TWELVE
like the ocean-tide. When the mound is completely destroyed, you will have prosperity, people. This was erected at an inauspicious moment. Do not make a mistake about this, sirs!"
The people, deceived by the rogue's intelligence, began to destroy the mound. Generally, everyone worn out by misfortune can be easily deceived. As soon as the destruction of the mound was started, Magadhika's husband left and ran two kos to Kūņika. The people, with the intelligence of a frog in a well, convinced, tore up the mound, down to the stone resting on a tortoise,250 so that it was completely destroyed.
66
At the end of twelve years, Kūņika made a breach into Vaiśāli. The power of the mound itself was difficult to overcome before. Then the fighting between the kings of Campā and Vaiśāli ceased, Never had there been such fighting in this avasarpiņi. Then the lord of Campă said to the lord of Vaiśāli: Arya Ceṭaka, you are entitled to be honored. What can I do to please you?" Depressed in mind, Ceṭaka replied to Kūņika, "Do you, eager for a festival of victory, delay your entrance into the city." Ceṭaka's speech was reported by the messenger and Kūņika, embarrassed at the thought, "What does he want?" agreed.
Now, a Vidyadhara, named Satyaki, a son of Sujyeṣṭhā, Cetaka's grandson, came and reflected as follows: " How can I see the subjects of my maternal grandfather plundered by enemies? I shall take them somewhere else." By a magic art, he lifted up all the people of the city and took them to Mt. Nilavati, cherishing them like a wreath of flowers.
Then tying an iron doll to his neck, like a sign of death, Cetaka fasted and jumped into deep water. Sinking, he was led to his own house by Indra Dharaṇa, who had seen him, thinking, He is a co-religionst." There is no death of those whose life-terms are unbroken. Ceṭaka, noble-minded,
66
250 382. I. e. the foundation-stone.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
