Dhurtakhyan

SR No.: 001861
Original Sutra Author: Haribhadrasuri
Author: Jinvijay
Publisher: Saraswati Pustak Bhandar Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 160
Language: Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati
Classification: Book_Devnagari, Story, Literature, P000, & P030
File Size: 14 MB

Page 37

DHĒRTĀKHYĀNA:
Draupadi was given to him in marriage. Thus the bow could contain mountains, planets, etc. 6) We hear in the Rāmāyaṇa that Jatāyu, the vulture, fought with his wings against Rāvana who cut his wings in the fight; and when Jațāyu fell on the ground, he appeared as big as Mandara mountain. Sitä blessed him that his wings would be restored after meeting the messenger of Rāma. Hanumat was sent by Rāma in search of Sitā; and he mistook for a mountain that body of Jātāyu who gave him the necessary information about her. Jatayu got the wings and flew to the heaven. So it means that a vulture can be as big as the Mandara mountain.
If the above events are true, then quite reliable are the incidents that the whole village could be accommodated in a cucumber (Nos. 1-3), that all the people could come out of it with their lives safe (No. 4), that a crane could contain all that (No. 5), and that there could be a big crane of that description (No. 6.)." (IL 26-75.).
III
Elāgādha narrated his experiences thus: “In my youth, greedy as I was, I pursued the fad of metallic transmutation and wandered everywhere in search of the specific juice, etc. On getting the information, I travelled a long. distance with steps covering hundred Yojanas, lifted a huge lid-stone, took the necessary juice from the golden pond, put the lid as before, and then returned home. Through the favour of that fluid, I had plenty of wealth and abundant possessions : servants waited on me, bards praised me, and young girls sang and danced round me. I gave gifts to the poor and needy. Hearing about my wealth, a party of well-equipped robbers besieged my palace at night. thought, I must defend my well-earned property. With a bow in hand fought against them and finished many of them on the spot. The rest of them attacked me at once, cut my head, put it on the badara tree, and went away After robbing all my property. My head comfortably began eating the badara fruits, and this was seen by people early in the morning. They realized that it was still living and joined all my limbs; and here I stand before you in person. If you find my personal experience unreliable, well, then give a feast." (III.1-19).
Sasa affirmed that Elāşadba's experience was quite reliable, because there are similar cages in Purāņas, Bhārata and Rāmāyana: 1) Jamadagni suspected the fidelity of his wife Reņukā who was enamoured of king Aśvāpahrta and ordered his son [Parasu-7 Rāma to cut her head. He was pleased with his son Rāma who carried out the order and asked him to demand a boon. Rama solicited that his mother should be restored to life; and she was made aliveby Tamadagui. 2) The two halves of his body were conjoined by Jarā; and lejer on he became the great king Jarasandha. 3) The gods conspired to ciestroy the two mighty brothers, Sunda and Nisunda, who proved a terror to them. They contributed bits from their bodies and thus created an extremely beautiful nymph, Tilottamā, by name. Humbly, she received: orders from gods Sad staried on her mission to destroy the two brothers. Seeing: her, tempting