Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 156

101
Suka's next query was whether the monk described himself as one or two, indestructible (aksaya), immutable (avyaya), everlasting and whether you are.many belonging to the past, future and present
Sthāpatyāputra replied: "I am one, I am two, and I am many as I belong to the past, future and the present. I am one from the point of view of substance (dravya); I am two from the point of view of knowledge and faith (ñāna and darsana); I am indestructible, immutable and everlasting (aksaya, avyaya and avasthita) from the point of view of space-points (pradesa) and from the point of view of upayoga (psychical attention or conscious attention) I am many and belong to the past, future and the present."
This led to Suka's enlightenment. He bowed low to Sthapatyäputra and expressed his desire to be initiated into the faith of the Jinas. He discarded his trident and clothes, plucked out his hair and became a shaven monk. He proceeded to study the eleven angas and the fourteen purva texts. Sthapatyåputra then suggested that he should hereafter take to wandering. Accordingly Suka left Saugandhikā and with a group of his disciples wandered away into the country side. One of these days he made his way towards the Pundarika mountain and slowly climbed to the top of it and sat on a stone which almost looked like a black cloud and it was so high up in the sky that gods appeared to be surrounding it. There Sthapatyāputra observed many fasts and hard penances and acquired absolute knowledge. After a fast of sixty meals, he was liberated from this world and his soul became free.
The newly converted monk Suka arrived in the town of Sailakapura where he converted king Sailaka who promised to bring his five hundred ministers and the prime minister Pänthaka round to agree to his becoming a shaven monk. He would also install his son Manduka on the throne. He accordingly consulted his up 30 back 35 prime minister Pānthaka and to his great pleasure Pânthaka and the other ministers also agreed to accept the new religion.
The king made all arrangements for the coronation of his son and instructed his ministers to make similar arrangements at home