Paumchariu Part 1

SR No.: 002523
Original Sutra Author: Swayambhudev
Author: H C Bhayani
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1953
Total Pages: 458
Language: Sanskrit, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 11 MB

Page 145

104
PAUMACARIC
of the Accountd Sagara
V Sandhi. The origin of the line of Demons
(up to Devarak şas): Account of Ajita (the second Tirthan kara) and Sagara
(the second Cakravartin).
Gautama then told Sreņika to listen to the origin of the lines of the Demons and Monkeys that he set out to narrate: Long after this there was born in Ayodhyā venerable Ajita as a son to Vijayā and Jitasatru of the Iksvāku line. His birth, marriage etc. were celebrated exactly as in the case of Rşabha. Once while going to the Nandana park he saw a lake fanned by the breezes and with blooming lotuses (1). Seeing the same lake in the evening with its lotuses faded and lustreless, sombre thoughts of the evanascent character of life and worldly glory and pleasures possessed him. That very moment the Lokāntika gods exhorted him and together with ten thousand other persons he renounced the world (2). He broke his fast at the house of Brahmadatta, moved preaching over the earth for fourteen years, practised sukla Dhyāna and attained Kevala. He had nine apostles and one lakh monks.
His cousin brother Sagara was at that time the Universal Monarch. Once Sagara was led away by his restive horse into a great wilderness, where at dusk, while he was removing his fatigue in a bower on the shores of a beautiful lake he was seen by Tilakakeśa, daughter of Sulocana and sister of Sahasrākşa. She at once fell in love with Sagara (3-4). Somebody informed Sahasrākşa, who, delighted because the forecast of the soothsayers thus proved true, went personally to invite him, gave him his sister in marriage along with the gift of the Northern and Southern Ranges (of Mount Vijayārdha) (5). Along with Tilakakeśa, Sagara returned to Ayodhya
Here Sahasrākṣa in order to wreak revenge on Purnaghana who had killed his father, marched to the city of Rathanūpurucakravāla and destroyed him in battle. Purnaghana's son Toyadavāhana, escaping somehow. took shelter in the audience-hall of Jina Ajita (6). There he was comforted by Indra to whom he related his story. His enemy also pursuing him with the vow that he would kill Toyadavāhana, even if all the great gods offered him protection, entered the audience-hall. The Jina related to both of them the incidents of their previous births, whereupon they gave up their enmity.
Bhima and Subhima (the Demon chiefs who were present there) embraced Toyadavāhana (7) and Bhima said: 'As you were my son in the previous birth, even now you are dear to me. Accept from me the aerial car Kamuka, the Demoniaccharm (rākşasi vidyā), a necklace and the impregnable and sea-girded city of Lankā together with the Underground Lańkā (Pātāla Lankā), six-yojana in extent and having only one door. Toyadavāhana accepting these gifts entered Lankā in the company of his ministers and feudatories and founded a new line of Demons (8). Long after this he again went to the audience-hall of Jina Ajita, who by way of reply to Sagara's question said: "Only one Tirthankara, Rşabha and one Universal Monarch, Bharata had appeared previously, while twentytwo Tirthankaras and ten Universal Monarchs as also nine Baladevas, nine Vasudevas, nine Prativasudevas and eleven Haras will appear in future. Besides, there will be fifty-nine Purāņas in the Jain religion. Then Toyadavāhana, filled with religious fervour