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XXIV ]
HARIBHADRA :
The narrative in the Prabhāvakacarita is written to say the least, in a most unconventional style of poetry, rendered frequently unintelligible by the bad preservation of the text. It seems to be based on a popular story, perhaps on a kind of Rās. We are acquainted with another version of the same subject, similar on the whole but differing in many details, from an abstract, or rather skeleton of an abstract in Rājasekhara's Kathākos'a (1350 A. D.), the greater part of which has been given by Kalyānavijaya (1. c. p. 8b.). According to this account:
Hamsa and Paramahamsa made three strokes on the throat of the image of Jina, thereby changing it into one of Buddha. But remarking that the Buddhist guru regarded them with suspicion they pretended to be ill and escaped taking with them a Budelhist relic (ka pālikā or karparika). To recover the relic the king sent a troop of soldiers after them; but as H. and P. were sahasrayodlins", they defeated them. Now the king despatched a large army, with which H. fought, while P. fled with the relic. H. was at last overcome by the great number of his enemies, who cut off his head and brought it to the King. But the guru insisted on recovering the relic. Therefore soldiers went in search of Paramahamsa They discovered him sleeping before the walls of Citrakuta the gates of which were closed, and cut off his head. Haribhadra finding the corpse of his pupil and nephew, fell into a tremendous rage. He filled cauldrons with boiling oil and attracted by charm 1,440 Bauddhas through the air to be made a sacrifice of. His guru sent him the three gathas. Haribhadra's wrath was appeased, and he composed 1,440 granthas in atonement of his passion and sins.
A comparison of this version of the story with the preceding one is of interest for those who investigate the growth of popular tales; but a critical inquirer, will, no doubt, reject both alike as sources for the history of Haribhadra's life. Even that he had two nephews and pupils named Hamsa and Paramahamsa who perished in an attempt at learning by stealth the doctrines of the Buddhists, statements which form the foundation of the legend and are by no means incredible in themselves, must be accopted with the utmost reserve. The legendary account of the circumstances which led to Haribhadra's composing the Samarāiccakahã will be discussed in the next paragraph.
The rest of the account in the Prabhavākacarita contains some details not un worthy of remark. I, therefore, add an abstract of the concluding part of the 9th s'raga of that work (v. 206-221).
Haribhadra diverted the layman Kárpāsika from his partiality for the Bharata and Itihāsa by telling him the five stories of rogues (211), and won him over to the Jaina faith. He ordered him to make an edition of his works and to distribute them among the yatis (217). He caused other people to construct 84 temples on one platform (ekapăthe ), 218. He also produced the Mahānis'ithasūtra from a decaying manuscript, ( 219 ). Ending his life by anas'ana he ascended to heaven ( 221 ).
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There is an allusion to their drstimelāpaka preceding the oombat, the meaning of whioh is not clear, This partionlar is apparontly an adaptation of Janamejaya's snako-saorto. In Mahābhārata, I, adhy. 51ff. This apparently refers to his Prākrit Kävya Dhūrtakhyanam.
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