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________________ SAMARAICCAKAHA (BHAVA-II) OF HARIBHADRASURI : A STUDY 403 acquaints her of the talks between Laksmikanta and Subuddhi which show that Laksmikanta is willing to offer his daughter to Simha (pp. 1-20). Now Madanalekha requests Kusumavali to draw the picture of a female lordly swan separated from her mate. And she takes the painting board and a few other presents to prince Simha and tells him that the presents were sent by Kusumavali. Simha accepts these readily. He in turn cuts the figure of a swan out of a leaf, and adds a verse with a tender meaning and sends it to his love. The lovers kept up the exchange of presents for some days till her father betrothed her on Simha, and on an auspicious day they were duly married (20-40). The prince and his wife lived together in happiness for a long, long time. Once, the prince chanced upon a young acarya Dharmaghosa. He asked him why he accepted, in the prime of youth, monkhood. Dharmaghosa related that while living in Rajapura there arrived Acarya Amaragupta who possessed avadhi knowledge. The king desired to know the history of the saint in this as well as in his former births. Thereupon Amaragupta narrated as follows : (Amaragupta's tale pp. 45-88) In the remote past, Amaragupta said, I was born in Campavasa as Soma; I was married to Rudradeva, a merchant's son. As a result of my acquaintance with a nun Balacandra, I was attracted towards the Jinadharma. Rudradeva asked me to give up that dharma. I refused. He started hating me, and even asked for Nagasri in marriage, but her father refused his request. Despairing of winning her during my life he resolved to kill me. He asked me to fetch a garland out of a pot in which he had placed a snake. I was bitten and I died. I was born as a god; Rudradeva married Nagasri; after his death he was born as a hellish being (45-49). After a palyopama we were reborn, I as an elephant and he as a parrot. In this birth also he was responsible to bring about my death. In the next birth, I became a Vyantara god, and he descended into hell (53). After a palyopama we were reborn in Cakravalapura, I as Cakradeva and he as Yajnadeva. I loved him sincerely but he only feigned love for me; he secretly tried to bring ruin on me. He plundered the house of Candana, and asked me to guard the goods, but informed the King that I had stolen Candana's goods. My house was searched. I was taken to the king. For this crime I was banished. Unable to put up with the disgrace, I resolved to commit suicide.But the Nagaradevata took compassion on me; she revealed the truth to the king. The king ordered Yajnadeva to be taken prisoner and hastened to save me. He explained how he came to know the truth and implored my forgiveness. I pleaded in Yajnadeva's favour and got him released. I was disgusted towards the life and hearing a sermon from Agnibhuti I became a nun. After my death I became a Vaimanika god; the Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org
| SR No. | 001868 |
| Book Title | Studies in Jain Literature |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | V M Kulkarni |
| Publisher | Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre |
| Publication Year | 2001 |
| Total Pages | 114 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English, Literature, & Story |
| File Size | 14 MB |