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The Thirty-Fourth Chapter
363. Having conquered the city of Amarapura with its countless palaces, the city of Varanasi in Kashi-desha seemed to be laughing at the vimanas of Amarapura. ||124||
A being who has accumulated evil karma in a previous birth is not worthy of being born in that city of Varanasi. Even if born there, could such a being, through negligence, ever become sinful in mind? No. ||125||
Thus, that city, which indicated the welfare of the three realms (past, present, and future), guided even those disciples who lived elsewhere, like the Jina-vani (the teachings of the Jinas). ||126||
Just as a humble person is the master of knowledge, so too was the king Akampan, whose very name terrified his enemies, the master of that city. Just as knowledge grants one's desired objects, so too did that city grant one's desired objects. ||127||
The policy of that king, who had earned merit in a previous birth, was not only to increase and protect Lakshmi (wealth), but also to use it for dharma (righteousness) and kama (desire). ||128||
He did not merely collect taxes from his subjects, but also gave them something in return. He did not merely punish them, but also protected them. Thus, victorious through dharma, he nurtured all his subjects. ||129||
The greatness of king Akampan's lineage was that just as Bharata Maharaja revered Vrishabhadeva in the Paramatma-pada (the state of the Supreme Soul), so too did he revere him in the Grihasthashrama (the householder's stage of life). ||130||
He had a queen named Suprabha, who was like the radiance of the moon. Just as the moon, the abode of many arts, remains joyful, spreading its radiance and causing the kumudinis (night-blooming jasmine) to bloom, so too did that king, the abode of many arts and knowledge, remain joyful, spreading his radiance through his queen Suprabha, and causing the happiness of all beings on earth to bloom. ||131||
Just as that virtuous Suprabha, who gave birth to excellent offspring, delighted the king, so too could Lakshmi not delight him. For just as excellent creepers that bear good fruit are dear, so too are women who are virtuous and have good sons. ||132||