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MARCE, 1903.)
THE LEGEND OF KUNJARAKARNA.
119
Thereupon, Kunjarakarna stood up. Then Parnavijays clasped the feet of Kunjara karna, while he wept and besought him to have pity on him, saying: "Oh, elder brother Kunjarakarna, do me this favour, help me in my need, save me from Yama's kingdom. Incalculable is the number of sins which I must expiate, older brother Kunjarakarna !” Thus lamented Parnavijaya.
“Oh brother Purnavijaya, my friend! What can I possibly do for you? I know no means of destroying the blemishes of the body. What avails it that you fix your glance upon me? When I know a means of destroying the blemishes of the body, my present Yaksha-form will immediately disappear. But I will give you this advice: I will accompany you into the presence of the Lord Vairdohana to make your humble reverence to him and to pray him to be mercifal to you so that the evil may depart from your body. Come on, make yourself ready, dear brother."
"Oh, brother, I should like to take leave of your younger sister (my wife), brother Kunjarakarna."
" Very well, brother Parnavijaya."
Parnavijaya then took leave of Kusumagandhavati “Oh, my younger sister Kusumagandhavatt, little mother! you stay here, dear! I go to Bodhiohitta to make my humble reverence to Bhatara-Vairdohana, with my elder brother Kunjarakarna."
Presto! Gone! Parnavijaya went away with Kunjarakarna. Witbout lingering on the way they came to Bodhiohitta, the sacred abode of Bhatara-Vairohana. At that time he was seated upon the jewelled lotus-throne, where he preached the Sacred Law.
Then said Kunjarakarna to Parnavijaya:-"Oh, brother Parnavijaya ! You must not pay your respectful homage to the Lord together with me, you shall make your lowly reverence to the Lord all in good time, when I have paid my homage; for, otherwise, it is to be feared that he will not trust you. But after I have paid my homage, you shall do so in your tarn. Otherwise it is to be feared that the Lord will be evil-disposed towards you. Above all, do not act contrary to what I say to you. Clasp at once the feet of the Lord with earnestnose. Come then, now go first to a place where you will be hidden."
4 Oh brother, what have I to say?" Presto 1 Gone! Parnavijaya separated himself and remained at some distance.
Immediately Kunjarakarna went to do homage to the Lord; he made a lowly reverence and .then said: Oh Lord and Master ! I bow down low before you. I, your son, am back from
Yama's kingdom, Master. There have I seen an exceeding great number of evil-doers; all my desire to live is gone, even if I were born as a human being. And Yamadhipati has duly enlightened me. May your loving favour continue towards me, O Lord! Teach me how the blemishes which cling to me may be removed from my body, Master 1 To wear body has its trials. Clearly Parnavijaya offers a proof of this; he drained all pleasures to the fall; nevertheless, after his death he shall fall into the cauldron of hell For proof that he shall andergo pain it suffices that he will soon suffer leprosy (or an impediment in his speech). A hundred years long is he to be oooked in the eauldron. So said Yamadhipath. This is the reason why I now pay my humble respects to you, Master: I should like to hear from you how such things can be helped and also how sin can be driven out of my body, Master."
"Oh my son Kunjarakarnn, old man ! it is exceedingly well done that you ask me questions concerning the Saored Law. You ask what is the origin of a buman being. Listen carefully, Whence came you' at the time when you were still in your father as.plasm and when your mother was till meid? Where were you? Where did you abide ? In non-existonoe, was it not? At least,
