________________
24
Lilavati-sāra
started elaborating on the consequences of addiction to the pleasures of sense-organs. At this point, in response to the king's question whether the four Kasayas came first or the transmigratory existence came first, the preceptor replied that the individual soul, the Kasayas and the transmigr atory world were all of them without a beginning, and added that the senses were the root cause of all the evil consequences Among them sense of touch was the foremost binding factor, since it put a great demand on the soul for fulfilment of its cravings. It compelled him to undertake all the troubles in life, and ultimately lead him. hell to suffer suffer the friuts of the bad deeds. Poin'ing out the king himself as an illustration in point, the preceptor narrated the following story (1-22): The story of Vimalavähana (23-287)
In the city of of Kancanapura, there ruled king Vimalavähana with his queen Karpüramanjari. He was too much addicted to the pleasures of touch. Another king named Jagacchubhankara ruled in Kṣitipratiş thapura, along with his queen Priyangulată. Both of them were devout and pious.
Once there arrived a nun at she door of Priyangulata and propounded materialistic views, denying the existence of soul, heaven, rebirth etc. But the queen refuted her views, silenced her and got her dismissed by her maids from the royal presence. The nun was furious. She drew a portrait of the queen and, out of spite for her, presented it to king Vimalavähana, giving her whereabouts and provoking him to procure her for his enjoyment.
The thoughtless Vimalavähana scent a messenger to Kṣitipratisthapura with the demand to hand over the queen and offered as compensation a thousand villages, plenty of gold and sovereign protection. Jagacchubhankara spurned the offer and challanged him for a fight. Vimalavähina was indignant. He took a march against Jagacchubhankara, disregarding the advice of his astrologers and ministers. He camped at a distance of a Yojana from the enemy's city, and sent an ultimatum to surrender the queen or otherwise face. consequences. The opponent took up the challange The battle between the two sides continued for four days with. out a result in favour of any one. the fifth day Vima'avābana the encounter that personally challenged Jagacchabhnakara, and in ensued the former was killed. His soul was consigned to hell.
elephant
The soul of Vimalavahana was reborn as a white in the Vindhya forest, where he enjoyed with a number of cow-elephants. He was noticed by the royal elephant-baiters, was caught in a pit and
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org