Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

Author(s): C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi

Page 60

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copper vessel on the back of this merchant, I will break my fast, but not otherwise." The king ordered that that should be done: All the skin of the merchant's back came away, but he bore patiently that fruit of his actions in a former life. He worshipped the chaityas, and remained one month on the top of a lofty mountain in the statuesque posture, eating nothing; then he died, reconciled with all, and was born as Indra in the Saudharma world. The threestaved ascetic also died, and was born as Airávana, the elephant on which Indra rides. He then fell from that position, and after various successive animal births, owing to the darkness of his ignorance, he was born as the Yaksha Asita. Indra, too, fell from his station, and was born as the Emperor Sanatkumára, in the city of Hastinágapura. Be assured that this is the cause of their enmity.
Then a great combat took place between the Yaksha and the prince. The prince, being a skilful boxer, struck the Yaksha with his fist, but as the Yaksha was immortal, he could not die, but he fled. The Vidyádharas showered down a rain of flowers on the prince. Then Sanatkumára, proceeding further, beheld eight daughters of the Vidyadhara Mánavega. Mánavega bestowed them on him; the prince married them. After marrying them, he went to rest with the marriage bracelet on. Being somewhat wakeful [he heard a plaintive sound*]; on going forward after hearing that plaintive sound, he saw a palace on the Ratnaçringa mountain. Hearing the sorrowful lamentation of a woman in the palace, he went there, and conquering the Vidyadharas by his might, he married a beautiful lady named Sunandá, and he also married her sister, called Sandhyáyá. He conquered the Vidyadhara Vajravega, and married a hundred maidens. And after this, at the time of battle, a discus was produced.'
While Vakulamatí was saying all this, the prince woke
These words are inserted to make sense.
+ Sandhyávali, in the form of the story edited by Jacobi. She is said there to be the sister of Vajravega.