Jain Journal 1969 07

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

Page 33

PAUMACARIU (from Vol. III No. 2)
SVAYAMBHUDEVA
On the line of the Demons
Many years rolled by and now Ajita was on the throne of Ayodhya. He was in the Iksvaku line. Since he was destined to be a Tirthankara, his birth, etc., were marked by the same events and similarly attended as those of Rsabha. One day Ajita was going to the Nandana Park. On the way he saw a charming lake whose surface was bedecked with beautiful lotuses in full bloom. In the evening, however, when he was returning by the same route, he saw that all the lotuses had lost their lusture and faded away. This raised very significant ripples in his mind about the transitoriness of life. Immediately he renounced the world. practised śukla-dhyāna and attained the kevala-jñāna.
Now his cousin Sagara ascended the throne at Ayodhya and became the paramount (cakravarti) ruler. One day when Sagara was on a trip, his horses became wayward and landed him on a wilderness. It was already evening and so it was not possible for the king to return. Now while he was relaxing on the bank of a beautiful lake, he was seen by Tilakakesa, daughter of Sulocana and sister of Sahasraksa. She fell in love with the king. When the report reached her brother, he felt happy and the marriage between Sagara and Tilakakesa was solemnised. After this Sagara returned to his capital with the newly married wife.
This alliance with the mighty king of the Iksvaku dynasty strengthened the hands of Sahasraksa who wanted to wreak vengeance on Purnaghana, the slayer of his father. This he did destroying the latter in the battle. Purnaghana's son, Toyadavahana, escaped and took shelter in the audience-hall of Ajita Jina. When Sahasraksa reached there in pursuit, the Jina pacified him by relating previous births of them both and they gave up their enmity.
When the Demon chief, Bhima who was present there, heard that Toyadavahana was his son in previous birth, he took him in his embrace and said, “As you were my son in previous birth, even now you are dear to me. Accept from me the aerial car Kamuka, and knowledge of many