Jain Journal 1971 01

SR No.: 520021
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1971
Total Pages: 54
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 47

JANUARY, 1971
The king then asked who her mistress was. With a sigh she replied that her name was Padma, the daughter of Ratnavali, the wife of the Vidyadhara king of Ratnapura. At his death his sons had quarreled, the kingdom had been distracted, therefore Ratnavali had taken her young daughter to that hermitage, whose abbot was Ratnavali's brother Galava. A soothsayer had professed that Padma would be the wife of the Cakravartin Suvarnabhanu, carried there by a run-away horse. The king, recognising the hand of destiny, asked to see the sage. The maiden (whose name turned out to be Nanda) told him that the sage had gone to pay his respects to another Muni, but would return on that day. Then an old nun told Nanda to go with Padma to greet the sage. Nanda reported to the sage the king's arrival, where upon he extoled the prophet who had predicted it. Together with the ladies he went to do honour to the king, who received him with distinction. The sage told him of the prophecy, and the pair were wedded by the gandharva rite of marriage.
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Padma's step-brother, Padmottara, a Vidyadhara king arrived, paid his respects to Suvarnabhanu, and bade him follow him to the mountain of Vaitadhya, there to resume lordship over the Vidyadharas. The king consented. With Padma he mounted the heaven-going chariot of the Vidyadhara. Padma mourned her separation from her mother, the hermitage maidens, the gazelles, and the flowers she had been tending. Pointing out her glorious destiny, Ratnavali consoled her, bidding her live as an exemplar of wifely devotion. They arrived at the mountain of Vaitadhya, where Suvarnabhanu was consecrated king of Vidyadharas. After staying there for some time he returned to his own city. He acquired the fourteen great jewels, celebrated the great festival (mahotsava) of eighteen days, and despatched the wheel of sovereignty from his armory into the easternly direction. He cast an arrow which fell down before the king of Magadha, as he was sitting in his assembly hall. The king angrilly took it up, but, when he read on it the name of Suvarnabhanu, he went with presents in his hands to conciliate him. Suvarnabhanu also conquered successfully Varadama, and Prabhasa, respectively the gods of the southern and western directions; Sindhu, the divinity of Vaitadhya and other kings and divinities, so as to control the whole earth. Kings and gods then consecrated him emperor by the great consecration (mahābhiṣeka) which lasted twelve years, being performed with water from holy bathing places (tirthas). He acquired sixtyfour thousand wives, thirtytwo thousand kings became his vassals. He had countless elephants, chariots, cities and villages. Thus he ruled long in all the glamour of a Cakravartin.