Jain Journal 1973 04

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

Page 58

216
Vira, the enhancer of followers' merit, took leave of his host, To practise penance as per Codes, moved he to a lonely spot. 323
JAIN JOURNAL
Narrowed by trees of attachment, overpowered by hunter-like senses, With baser beings scattered all over, in the form of terrific hardships, 324 Covered with many a herd of elephants, who are like passions, Made dreary by countless cobras, death-like with mouths agape, 325 Hardened by lion-like hardships four, anger-greed-attachment-pride, Surrounded by rogue-like obstructions, gave he up such a worldly life-326 To go to forest, that serves the meritorious, joyful and obstruction-free Full of worthy men, spacious, free from all disturbance. 327 Rapaired he thither with his feudal chiefs, that were the Vows Great, Equipped with naya, with right knowledge, conduct and vision, 328 With perseverance his weapon, merits as his talisman, Treading the path of purity, aided by noble thoughts. 329 There in the forest, fear-free, practised he yogas sundry, And in this lonely place, practised ten meditations of merit. 330
Thereon, once, the great monk Vira arrived at a cremation ground, Atimuktaka by name, of Ujjayini, fixing himself in a pratima, 331 Seeing him fixed, out of wickedness, Rudra, Mahadeva his name, Keen to take a test, created spirits, peeling each other's skin, 332 To enter each other's belly, with mouths agape, dancing at sundry pace, Shouting, bursting in peels of laughter, giving a bitter frown. 333 During the night, he created such spirits, and at the same time, Created he serpents, elephants, lions, fire and terrific wind, 334 And a vast army of tribals, created he by his evil wit. By dint of his powers, created he a disturbance terrific, 335 To shake Vira from his meditation; but in all this failed he. Then he praised him profusely, calling him Mahati and Mahavira, 336 Instituted a dance with Uma, and disappeared from that place, For, even the sinners are pleased, at the sight of bravery. 337
Once princess Candana, daughter of Cetaka, came to forest to play, A certain Vidyadhara saw her, and carried her away, 338 He felt a lust for her, but when he thought of his wife own, Afraid was he, and discarded the princess in a forest alone. 339 There a tribal saw her, and out of greed to earn some wealth, He made a handsome gain by selling her to merchant Vrisabhadatta. 340 Subhadra was the merchant's spouse, she sensed her man's design, To starve the princess, she served her with coarse Kodra rice, 341 Which was soaked in a sour soup, served in an earthen dish, And she kept her tied in chains, out of anger and jealousy. 342