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 95

40
ill-smelling sweat from the pores."
Inspite of all these words of wisdom that flowed from Citra, Sambhūta's soul did not awake. On the other hand by reason of his excessive delusion, Sambhūta entertained the worldly thought (or made the evil resolution) :
"If there is a fruit of this penance of mine then may | become a universal monarch in another birth." This is how he bore testimony to the wisdom of the view that "The most dangerous tree of delusion whose roots are spread out for the bringing forth of beginningless existence is only with difficulty uprooted by the most zealous (or careful)."
In their next life Citra and Sambhūta were born in this world, after a short spell as gods in the Saudharma heaven, in privileged families. Citra became the son of a rich merchant in Purimatāla and Sambhuta the son of king Brahma and queen Culani of Kämpilyapura and he was given the name of Brahmadatta. During her pregnancy, the queen had seen the fourteen dreams that predict that the child to be born would be either a Tirthankara or a sovereign monarch. King Brahma had four intimate friends King Kataka of Kāsi, King Karnikāradatta of Gajapura, King Dirgha of Kosala and King Puspacüda of Campā. They all spent their time merrily in each other's company and loved each other very much. But King Brahma had developed a disease of the head for which there was no cure. He requested his other royal friends to look after the prince Brahmadatta before he died. The four friends made arrangements to take care of his kingdom and son and appointed King Dirgha as a Regent. He looked after the administration of the state as if he was the rightful monarch and looked after the queen as if she was his rightful wife. The illicit love affair was detected by one of the ministers called Dhanu who was one of the most loyal friends of the former king and now of the young prince. He suspected that Dirgha who had no hesitation in choosing such an immoral course of behaviour would not show any unwillingness to do harm to the young prince. He asked his son to draw the prince's attention to the wickedness of Dirgha and the queen. The prince