Kuvalayamala Part 2

SR No.: 002778
Original Sutra Author: Udyotansuri
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 368
Language: Sanskrit, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 12 MB

Page 83

44
KUVALAYAMÂLÂ
mountain, and approached the palace situated on a lofty peak. The Bhilla chief tried to divert the prince with jocular talks lest he should feel tired in climbing. With a question containing the answer, the chief disclosed to the prince that his Pallī was called Cintamani. After they visited the palace-temple, their physical comforts were attended to. After a luxurious bath, they worshipped Arhat; they had their meals; and then they rested comfortably. One day, when they were seated together, there arrived a person, clad in white and with an iron club in hand, and gave a good blow on the head of the Bhilla chief reminding him specifically that he was not following caritra. On second thoughts, the Bhilla chief welcomed this and felt remorse that he was not behaving worthily. On an enquiry by the prince, he explained the episode as below (Pages 138.10-139.33; *58.13-31).
DARPAPARIGHA'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND KINSHIP WITH KUVALAYACANDRA: 'In the town of Ratnapuri there ruled a king Ratnamukuta; and he had two sons: Darpaparigha and Bāhu- or Bhuja-parigha. One night, when the king was alone in his private apartment, he happened to see a butterfly jumping at the flame of the lamp; with innate kindness, he tried more than once to ward it off, but it again came to the lamp. He had a desire to save its life; but if that was not possible, he himself would attend to his benefit in the next world. He put that butterfly in a casket, closed its mouth, and kept it near his pillow. When he opened it later, he realized that possibly it was swallowed by a domestic lizard. He felt convinced that there is no rescue from Death, and one's Karmas are all-powerful. He was disgusted with worldly life, and mentally accepted renunciation. A deity in the vicinity presented him rajo-haraṇa, mukha-potrikā etc.; and he became a Pratyekabuddha. When it was daybreak, the king came out of his apartment as a monk; and this was a matter of surprise and sorrow to one and all including his queens. Followed by many, he reached the park where gathered his ministers, queens and his two sons; and to all of them he gave a discourse on the nature of samsāra and its ties. He explained the episode of the butterfly which was the immediate cause of his renunciation: he added how there was asaraṇatā, how he recollected his previous births (a monk in the Apara-videha, a Saudharma-deva, and thence a king here), how he pulled five handfuls of hair, how a deity gave him the equipment, and how he became a nirgrantha monk. Inquired of by the minister Vimala, the Royal Saint gave a detailed exposition on Dharma, its practice and its object. Dharma, Adharma, Ākāśa, Jīva and Pudgala are the fundamentals; and the interaction of the last two gives rise to Nine Padarthas. Being in the company of Karma, the Jīva, through Pramada, fourfold passions and threefold activities, wanders through high and low grades of births; it is in human life that one has the sense of discrimination whereby one adopts right conduct; and one practises dhyāna etc. to attain omniscience and finally the bliss of Liberation (§§ 233-34). The Royal sage urged them to practise it for their spiritual benefit, and left the place to pursue his vihara. Since then we are Śrāvakas having only the samyaktva. On the advice of our uncle, kind Dṛdhavarman of Ayodhya, I, Darpaparigha, the eldest son, was to be installed on the throne; but there was intrigue in the palace to back my younger brother; and I was