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

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He hit the prince on the chest with a hammer that was studded with thick iron. The prince defended himself with a big sandal tree which he had uprooted, he struck the Yaksa on the thighs with the tree and the Yaksa dropped on the ground. But he managed to escape and hurled a mighty mountain at the prince. The prince was sorely hurt and he fell unconscious but he quickly regained consciousness and engaged himself in a boxing bout with the Yaksa. The prince hit him hard with his mighty hand and soon enough the Yaksa was turned, as it were, into a hundred shards. But he did not die as Yaksas are immortal. He only disappeared from the scene but his ugly howling echoed for a long time. The gods and fairies who had come to watch the wonderful spectacle showered plentiful flowers on the head of
Sanatkumara who had successfully beaten the Yaksa.
Sanatkumara departed from the excellent lake and travelled a little distance. He found himself in the middle of Nandana wood and to his surprise he saw eight charming young women and wondered whether they were the eight charming goddesses of the eight regions of the heaven. They were in fact the daughters of Vidyadhara Bhānuvega. Sanatkumâra approached them and asked in a sweet voice who they were and why should they be in that desolate wild wood. They said they lived not far from there, their city was called Priyasangama where they invited him to take arest. Accordingly Sanatkumara accompanied them to the city and the king's officers escorted him to the king's presence. After the initial proceedings of welcome and hospitality were over the king Bhănuvega told Sanatkumāra that the girls he had met by the side of the lake and who had persuaded him to come and see the king were all his daughters. He also told him that the sage Arcismálin had predicted that they would all be married to the young man who would defeat the Yaksa Asitaksa. Sanatkumära readily agreed to wed them all and accordingly the nuptials were celebrated and the marriage-string was fastened round their wrists and he slept with them in the chamber of Love's Pleasure. But towards the end of the night when he had finished his sleep he thought he was lying