Jain Journal 1968 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 44

CONTEMPORARY INTELLECTUALS
OF HEMACANDRA
KC LALWANI
helāniddalıyagaindakumbhapayadıyapayāvapasarassa sthassa maena samam na viggaho neva sandhanam
A lion whose prowess is demonstrated in the ease with which he kills a mighty elephant cares not war or peace with a stag
The above is a couplct which king Bhoja of Dhara sent to his rival and contemporary King Bhima I of Anahullapura in order to test the intellectual stamina of the latter's court On receipt of this, Ling Bhima sent for his court-poets and asked them to draft a suitable reply This was done but the king was not happy The reply must be fitting to the iniellectual challenge that Bhoja has thrown and yet none was up to the mark Then at the king's bidding there started a frantic search for a real genius that would be helpful for the purpose and the manner in which it was discovered is by itself a charming tale When the search was going on, a dance-performance was in progress in a caityavāsi Jaina shrine as per the usual practice of the time It was attended among others by Govindacarya, a Jaina savant, with his retenue of disciples which included the most illustrious Suracarya it was an interval and the dancing damsel, cxhausted and perspiring, was reclining on a stone pillar in a rather attractive pose This in itself became a feat and the members of the audience requested the Jaina savant to give a charming verse on the reposing damsel At this Govindacarya only cast his glance at his favourite disciple Suracarya who at once came out with one describing the features of the star Accidentally, our courtiers who were out on a search for a real intellect were present in this gathering They were profoundly impressed by the verse which Suracarya produced extempore At their insistence, Govindacarya and his disciples visited the court of Bhima and received the king's request Govindacarya as usual looked at his disciple who came out with a Prakrit verse which was transmitted to king Bhoja as the most befitting reply Thus ran the verse
andhayasuyāna kālo bhimo puhavit nimmio vihinā jena sayampı na ganiam kā gananā tujha ikkassa