Book Title: Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study
Author(s): Nagaraj Muni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Printers and Publishers

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Page 495
________________ 455 "It's not I but the king who is making the offer". When Kalasaurika refused the request, he was thrown into the well where he produced 500 buffaloes out of clay and slaughtered them(29). The implication was that these two were as impossible as Srenika's averting life in hell. The Jaina literature has on record many occasions to remind one of the meeting between Bhagavān Mahāyira and King Srenika. In this connection, there is an interesting episode which also involves the royal-monk Prasannacandra. Prasannacandra was the king of Potanapura, He was initiated into monkhood by Mahavira himself. One day, at Rajagrha, as the congregation met, Prasannacandra stood in meditation outside the pandal. When Sreņika's party arriyed there, his army commander Durmukha pointed to the royal monk and remarked. "This man is a hypocrite and unenlightened too. He has entrusted his kingdom to a young prince who is in the prime of life, and has himself escaped to be a monk. His miniters are conspiring against him in collusion with the enemy kings and have already started usurping his kingdom". These words reached the ears of the royal monk as he stood in meditation. He felt a confusion within himself. He had within him a feeling of anger against his enemies and ministers. Sreņika made a formal bow to the royal monk and hastened to the presence of Mahāvira. Coming there, he put the follow-question, "Bhante ! If Prasannacandra, who is standing here outside in meditation, dies just now, what state does he attain"? - "Nineth hell". Srenika was taken competely aback. After a short gap of time, he asked again, "Bhante ! If he dies now, then"?

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