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 147

106
PAUMACARIU
girls are for being given away in marriage and your daughter herself has made this choice, how then Śrikantha is at fault?' Hearing these words Puspottara had no face to save. Saying: 'Girls, if not married away are a source of infamy' he returned. Thus Śrīkantha married Kamalāvati.
After many days, seeing Śrīkaņtha eager to leave, Kirtidhavala, with a view to avert separation from him, said: "Why do you not. stay near me? Choose for yourself any one of my numerous islands (3-4). (Kīrtidhavala's) minister advised Srikantha to select Monkey Island (Vānaradvipa) which he describes. Srikantha made up his mind and started on the first day of Caitra(5). Śrīkantha's army entered Monkey Island, which is described (6). Sporting with monkeys and taking some with him, Srikantha went to the mountain Kisku, where he founded the city Kiskupura, which is described. Once seeing gods proceeding towards Nandīśvara Island, he also started in order to pay homage to the Jina (7). With his retinue he reached Mountain Manušottara, but his further movement was checked. Resolving to practise severe austerities so that he can get qualified to enter Nandīśvara, he returned to his city, handed over the reins of his kingdom to his son, and became a recluse. Successively eight kings in his line took the same course.
Amaraprabha, the ninth king, flourished during the interval between the Jinas Vāsupūjya and śreyāṁsa (8). On the occasion of his marriage with the princess of Lankā, somebody executed drawings of monkeys in his courtyard, seeing which the bride swooned through fear. The angry king ordered to execute those who drew monkeys. The ministers pacified him by telling, 'Since Srikantha's time they are our family deities, cause of prosperity and the emblem for our Monkey Dynasty. The remorseful king gave orders to mark the royal crown, the royal umbrella, banners etc., with the monkey insignia (9). Since then his line became famous as the Monkey Dynasty, which held overlordship of both the Ranges. Amarprabha's son was Kapidhvaja, Kapidhvaja's Pratibala, Pratibala's Gaganānanda, Gaganānanda's Khacarānanda, Khacarānanda's Girinandana, Girinandana's Udadhirava.
Udadhirava's friend was Taditkeśa, the king of Lankā, whose queen was once injured on breasts while they were bathing in the garden tank, whereupon he pierced the monkey with an arrow. The monkey went to a monk nearby. He heard the namokkāra from him, died, was reborn as an Udadhikumāra god and recalling his previous birth descended near Taditkeśa (10). As Taditkeśa was still revengefully killing monkeys whenever he came across one, the Udadhikumāra god created a magic army of innumerable monkeys, as huge as mountains, carrying trees fire and other weapons (11). Some of them challenged the king, who, in view of their human speech and arms, regarded them as unusual phenomena and trembling with freight humbly enquired: 'Who are you? Did I offend you? Why are you armed?' The god told him everything asking in the end either to meet the challenge or fall at his feet (12). The king bowed down to the god, who led him to the monk and showed him his dead body of the previous life. When that monk was requested to preach religion he took them to his Guru in a Jain shrine (13). On being requested to preach religion his Guru expounded the great merits of Dharma (14). Being asked by Taditkeśa, the Guru narrated, 'In your previous birth you were a monk