Book Title: Jain Journal 1971 01
Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

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Page 44
________________ 138 slaying and dispersing. Aravinda knew through his profound insight (abadhi) that the time to enlighten the elephant had now come. He placed himself in kayotsarga position; the elephant came to his side and revered him. Aravinda reminded him of his former state of Marubhuti, and exhorted him to abandon his mad folly. Marubhuti then remembered his former birth as a śravaka, paid his respects to the sage and signified with his trunk that his faith was restored. Varuna, his mate, as well as many people, including Sagaradatta, accepted the faith. Then Aravinda retired to the mountain Kailasa; the elephant Marubhuti lived piously on sun-warmed water and dry leaves, repenting that he had inflicted destruction and terror upon living beings. JAIN JOURNAL In the meantime Kamatha, unchastened even by the murder of Marubhuti, ignored by his teacher, despised by other ascetics, had died in a troubled state of mind (ārta-dhyāna), and was reborn as a Kurkuta serpent. Killing and endangering all living beings, he infested the forest, and finally bit the elephant Marubhuti. The latter died in the thought of the law (dharma-dhyāna), therefore was reborn as a god in the Sahasrara heaven, where he was acclaimed by celestial females. Varuna also was reborn in heaven as Marubhuti's wife; they lived there in the highest enjoyment of the pleasures of the senses. The Kurkuta serpent (Kamatha) was reborn as a hell-inhabitant in the Pancamavani hell suffering all the tortures of that hell. Sarga 2: King Kiranavega On the Vaitadhya mountain stood a sumptuous city, Tilaka, in which ruled a Vidyadhara king, Vidyutgati, with his beloved wife Tilakavati. The soul of the elephant (Marubhuti) fell from the eighth kalpa into the womb of Tilakavati, to be born as prince Kiranavega. In due time that prince was married to Padmavati, daughter of an important vassal of the king. The king, after giving instructions to his ministers and preaching royal wisdom to his son, made over to him his kingdom, and took vows with the celebrated Guru Sagara. Kiranavega had a son, Kiranatejasa, who grew up finely. A sage, Suraguru by name, arrived at a park outside the city, and delivered a sermon culminating in the five-fold vows (pañca-vrata) being the duties in lighter form (anu) of the house-holder (grhi) in distinction from the ascetic (yati). Many people were converted. King Kiranavega turned from concerns of the body to concerns of the soul and became as one who has attained salvation while yet alive (jivanmukta). He then thanked Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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