Chaupannamahapurischariyam

Author(s): Shilankacharya, Amrutlal Bhojak, Dalsukh Malvania, Vasudev S Agarwal
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 46

INTRODUCTION
[ 31 and unbends (or takes down) his bow. V. follows his example and both sit down under the shade of a tree. V. tells Viraka his story, whereupon the latter advises him to abandon Silavati, confirming him at the same time in his general aversion for woman-folk. He then takes V. as a guest to his palli and afterwards accompanies him till they reach the outskirts of V.'s village. Arriving there he declares that he wants to renounce the world, breaks his bow and goes away. Silavati is sent by V. to her relatives. Thereupon she declares that she has no support except him and starts to hang herself. However she is prevented from doing so by V. who hands her over to her family. Subsequently he renounces the world and after death he is reborn in heaven.
Thereafter he is reincarnated in the Andhra country as Asokabhadra, son of King Asokacandra. His father gives him a hundred girls in marriage. One day he meets in a grove a youthful monk, at whose sight he experiences an inexplicable sense of excitement and attraction. When Asokabhadra asks the recluse the reason for his excitement, the latter tells him that he had been helpful to him (i. e. to Varunavarman/Asokabhadra ) in his previous existence as Viraka and tells him the entire Silavati-episode. The story makes a deep impression on Asokabhadra's mind and he takes the pravrajya at the feet of the Acārya Dharmaghoşa. After death he is again reborn in heaven. Next he is reincarnated as Puramdaradatta, son of Indradatta. Wandering on the Sriparvata, he meets the Sadhu Rşabhasena who tells him of his (i. e. of Varunavarman/Purandaradatta's ) past births. Thereupon Puramdaradatta renounces the world under the guidance of Rşabhasena. Wandering with the Sadhu, he comes to the present spot where his companion attains final release. Since that time the Sriparvata is known as "Siddhavada".
25. Remarks on the Silavati-story. After their departure from the royal capital, the sons of Sagara see a recluse while they are resting themselves at some lonely place. They ask him why he has renounced the world, " for such a decision has normally some external reason". The monk replies by relating the Silavati--story summarized above (speaking in the first person ). He concludes his narration by warning the sons of Sagara that they should never place any trust in women.
The composition of the story is rather loose. The Viraka-episode in particular is quite superfluous and was probably only inserted as the necessary antecedent to the inevitable jātismarana--episode in the following incarnation. Single features like the liberation of the hero by a mouse, the removal of the pegs with the help of a magical root, and the cooperation with the monkey are known from other works ( magical herb: Sanghadāsa's Vasudevahindi p. 138, 1.12 ff.). Although the name of the female hero (Silavati. i. e. of good character') may be meant ironically, it seems that Silänka's model was some tale where a virtuous woman is kidnapped and later on liberated by her husband. In the present form of the story. V.'s continued efforts to liberate his wife have no proper motivation. Some of the gäthäs are reminiscent of Pancatantra verses (see SC/M pp. 147 ff.), but such parallels are probably not restricted to this part of SC.