________________
145
INTERVENING STORIES
In the Brahmanical tradition the Visnupurāņa (2.1) refers to Rṣabha as the son of Nabhi and Merudevī. He had 100 sons, Bharata being the eldest. Rṣabha performed various sacrifices and observed penances. He attained liberation in the state of nakedness. The Bhagavatapurana (5.6) states that the son of Nabhi and Merudevī was named Rṣabha on account of his various excellent qualities. He was the incarnation of Viṣņu. He married Jayanti, the daughter of Indra. He taught to the people the lay-man's duties and directed his sons to observe penances, to control senses, to meditate on self (soul) to do away with 'avidya' and desires, and to have regard for all living beings. He renounced the world in Digambara state. He observed various austerities and then ended his life. Many other Puranas also refer to Rṣabha. The Manusmrti mentions him as the first Jina (see p.27, Int. of Adipuraṇa-B.G.K. edition).
6. Ajitasvamin, the second Tirthankara:
After having narrated the biography of Rṣabha, Gautama relates the life of the second Tirthankara, Ajitasvāmin and associates with him the origin of the Rākṣasavamsa (5.48-61, 123 and 167).
Tridasanjaya, the son of Dharaṇīdhara ruled at Saketapuri. He begot on his wife Indurekha (Indalehā) a son called Jitaśatru. Jitaśatru married Vijaya. She was the daughter of king Ananda of Podanapura born of Kamalamālā. Vijaya gave birth to Ajitasvamin. Having once observed a withering lotus-garden Ajitasvamin renounced the world. He broke his fast at Saketapurī by taking the food offered by Brahmadatta. During the twelfth year of his renunciation he attained Kevala. He had 90 Ganadharas and one lac minus nine disciples. Once Vidyadhara Meghavahana took refuge under him. He was made the first lord of Rākṣasadvipa by Bhima, the lord of Rakṣasa gods (5.137). Ajita sermoned on religion and in course of time attained Nirvana on the Sammeta mountain.
The Samavayanga (Su. 24), the Kalpasūtra (Su. 203) and the Tiloyapannatti refer to Ajitanatha as the second Tirthankara and his parents as Jitaśatru and Vijayā. There are differences as regards other details in various works.
The PCR (5.71), PCS (5.3.2) and RPS (p. 14) mention that in the fourteenth year of his renunciation Ajita attained Kevala while the UP (48.42), the MP (38.21) and the TSP (II. p. 99) agree with the PGV.
The TP and the PCR (5.73) agree with the number of Ganadharas mentioned in the PCV but they mention one lac disciples. The PCS 10
