Chakkammuvaeso

SR No.: 002315
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Madhusudan Modi
Publisher: Oriental Institute
Publication Year: 1972
Total Pages: 448
Language: Sanskrit
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 10 MB

Page 59

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Some woman informed about that matter to her mother-in-law who when she came, scolded her for laying the pot full of water at the Jina-temple though she was born a Brāhmaṇa. She was sent back with a harsh rebuke. She then went for another earthen pot to an old potter. [K. 4.] She requested the potter to give her a good pot in exchange of a bracelet. Seeing tears in her eyes, the old potter came to know from her the whole account and gave her a pot without accepting the bracelet. She filled it with water and gave it to her mother-in-law. [K. 5.] Seeing that the mother-in-law thought and repented for scolding her for giving the pot in the Jina-temple for a religious purpose. By that repentence, her evil act was in effect diminished. In the next birth, the potter became a king by name Śridhara in the town of Kumbhapura and he had a queen Sridevi. The daughter-in-law after her death was born a daughter to them. [K. 6.] She was named Kumbhaśrī. When she was bathing the idol of Jina with water, a monk by name Śruta-sagara came there. He had the knowledge of previous births. King Sridhara went there with his daughter to pay him his respects and hear his sermon. At that time, a miserable woman surrounded by dirty children came there. [K. 7] She was suffering from boils big as pots on the head. The king asked the monk what bad actions of the past birth had brought that woman in that miserable condition. The monk related the whole incident of Soma and her daughter-in-law Somaśri [K. 8.] He related how Somä scolded Somasri and she went to the potter who gave her the pot without accepting the bracelet. [K. 9] She gave that pot, filling it with water to her mother-in-law, who after a time had a feeling of repentence for having scolded Somaśri for giving the pot full of water for the ablution of Jina. Soma after death was born a daughter to Venudatta by name Durgati in Kumbhapura and had a very miserable life. She suffered then from these boils on head. The potter was born a king and Somasri was born as his daughter by name Kumbhaśri, who becoming a king in the fifth birth would attain absolution. [K. 10]. Having heard this story from the monk, she remembered her previous birth. Durgati fell before the feet of Kumbhaśrī who touched her head which was full of boils, and the woman's disease vanished. The king was very much pleased with her daughter. [K. 11.] Durgati, free then from her disease, became initiated a nun, and went to the first heaven after her death. The king, with his daughter Kumbhasri accepted Jainism and having worshipped Jina by always bathing the idol with water, led a pious life. Kumbhaśrī, after death, was born in Isana heaven and after other births, would become a king and then attain absolution by her propitiation of the Jina by water.
[Sandhi :3 :]
[K. 1.] This section describes how a person gets the most fragrant body by worshipping the Jina by applying fragrant substances such as camphor, sandalpaste etc. after bathing the idol, everyday. The author then narrates a story.