Jain Journal 1970 07

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

Page 25

JAIN JOURNAL
This was too great a humiliation. The king preferred to renounce the world and be a recluse. Bharata appeared on the spot and bowed before the new recluse. Rama and his party then returned to Jivantanagara.
The party now came to Godavari and reached the city of Ksemanjali where reigned king Aridamana. He had a daughter named Jitapadma. Many suitors had come to seek her hand but failing to pass the test they all had lost their lives. A ghastly heap of their bones could be seen outside the city. Laksmana offered himself as a suitor and expressed his readiness to pass the test. This he successfully did. Five Śaktis were hurled by king Aridamana which Laksmana easily caught and then he offered to hurl a counter-sakti. Apprehending the outcome the princess intervened. The episode happily ended in Laksmana getting the princess as his wife.
The party proceeded farther south. Crossing a hill they reached the city of Vamsasthala which was now in turmoil. The king and his subjects were all fleeing. For the city had been attacked by a horde of demons because of which there were roars, cyclones, showers and quakeshocks. The only quiet people were the monks who bore all tortures and remained steadfast in their meditation. Rama and Laksmana dispersed the demons and thus saved the monks. Immediately, thereafter these attained kevalajñāna. Indra descended to celebrate the occasion and gave sermon on the fruits of religious life.
bhanai purandaru aho aho loyaho jai sankiya jara-maraṇa-bioyaho jai ņivvinnā cau-gai gamaņaho to ki na dhukkaho jiņavara-bhavaaņaho puttu kalattu jāba mane cintaho jinavara-vimvu tāva ki no cintaho
To be Continued