________________
176
night in her bed. In the course of the night her hand somehow slipped out from under the blanket. That hand being cold, Queen Chillaná woke up. She said: 'How will he get through the night ?' The king heard this speech, and said to himself : 'Surely the queen must have made an assignation with someone, as she says this over and over again. The king fell into a passion. In the morning he said to Prince Abhaya : 'Burn all the harem'; and having given him these instructions, he went himself to . the Jina. After bowing before him, he said: 'Reverend sir, is Queen Chillaná the wife of one or of many ?' The master asserted: Queen Chillaná is devoted to one husband only, and is of good character; but the meaning of her saying, “How will he get through the night ?" is as follows: At sunset she saw a hermit enduring the trial of cold. At night, when it was very cold, the queen's hand came outside the blanket, and that made her remember the hermit, and wonder how he was getting on. The king's doubt was removed, and he went back to the palace full of remorse. In the meanwhile Prince Abhaya set on fire an empty elephant-stable, and went off to worship the Jina. On the way the king met him. He said : Prince Abhaya, have you set the harem on fire ?' He answered : Certainly.' The king said: "Why did you not enter it ? Prince Abhaya answered: My father, how could I enter it without permission ?' The king said: 'I permit you.' Prince Abhaya said: 'If this is my father's order, never mind entering the material fire. I will enter self-restraint, the fire that consumes passion.' Then Prince Abhaya, together with his mother, took a vow with great ceremony. Then, after some time, the king made up his mind that he would give the kingdom to Koņika ;* so he gave to the two princes, Halla and Vihalla, the elephant Sechanaka. He gave to Queen Chillaná the necklace Devadatta, and also a pair of garments of woven silk and a couple of bracelets. One day Koņika consulted with the ten princes, Prince
* Hofrath Bühler calls hin Kúnika, and tells us that he was also called Ajátaçatru. He appears to have been also called Açokachandra.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
