Jain Journal 1971 04

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

Page 32

APRIL, 1971
221
will be men greedy for money. Then the protection of old holy places is better than the making of new holy places.
The younger brothers agreed and then Janhu took the staff-jewel which had a powerful radiance like the sun. He and his younger brothers began to dig up the earth to make a moat around Astapada. The sons of Sagara dug the moat a thousand yojanas in depth and by it split open the homes of the Nagas. All the Naga-folk were terrified at their houses being destroyed. Then the Naga king, Jvalanaprabha, blazing with anger like a fire, saw the earth split open. Thinking "What's this?”' he hurried away and came to Sagara's sons.
Terrible with a violent frown, his lips trembling from anger, the Naga king Jvalanaprabha, said to the sons of Sagara :
"Oh what has been done, alas ! by men thinking themselves valiant, insolent from gaining the staff-jewel. This destruction of the eternal homes of the Bhavanadhipas has been made now by men acting without deliberations. Why have you, sons of the brother of Ajita Svamin, done such a thing like a cruel act by Pisacas?"
Then Janhu said to the Naga king: “That is right, what you, troubled by the destruction of your houses which originated with us, have said. We did not dig up the earth with the staff with the idea that your houses would be destroyed, but for the sake of protecting Astapada was the ground dug up in the form of a moat. Here Cakrin Bharata, the root of our family, made a shrine of precious stones and pure jeweled statues of the Arhats. We made this effort because we feared its destruction by people through the fault of future (evil) time. The destruction of your houses was not anticipated because of the distance. Alas ! the unerring power of the staff is to be blamed for that. What was done by action without reflection and from devotion to the Arhats, pardon that. We shall not do such a thing in future.”
Thus conciliated by prince Janhu, the Naga king became calm. Saying, "Do not do such a thing again", he (left).
When the Naga king had gone, Janhu said to his brothers : "This moat of Mt. Astapada has been made, to be sure. But though deep as Patala, it does not look right without water. Furthermore, it will become filled with dust. So this must certainly be filled up with a large quantity of water and that cannot be done without the high-waved Ganga."