________________
1 SIDDHASENA DIVĀKARA
23
This pillar was made neither of clay nor of wood nor of stones. After surveying it critically, Siddhasen arrived at the conclusion that it must have been made with the powder of some medicinal plants. On the strnegth of his genius he examined the smell, the taste, and the touch of that pillar and at last applying some potent medicinal herb having properties contrary to those of the herbs of the pillar he effected a large hole in that pillar and inside he saw a collection of thousands of books. From among these books he took a book and opening it at a page at random, read a line that came before his eyes. Only from that one line he got two mystic lores; one Suvarñasiddhi by which one could produce gold at will and another an incantation named Sarasava that would create a new army. Rejoicing at heart he began to decipher some more lines from the book, but just then the presiding deity of the pillar snatched the book from his hands thinking Siddhasena to be unworthy to know anything further of the mystic lores contained therein.
Afterwards Siddhasena went on his religious tour to the easternmost countries and arrived at the town of Karmār. King Devapāla was then the ruling king there. He welcomed Siddhasena to his capital and Siddhagena in his turn gave religious sermons to the king and made him his friend. Once King Vijayavarma of the country of Kāmaru attacked this King Devapāla and with a large force of foresters at his command besieged the capital of the King. King Devapāla was frightened at this unexpected attack and entreated the Sūri to protect him saying, "Sir, you are my protector. The forces of the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
