________________
CCLXXIV
Kavyanusasana
that he was introduced to the court of Jayasimha by the year V.S. 1181-A.D.1125 *. At that time Hemachandra would be 31 years of age. The Pra. Cha., however, tells us that after Hemachandra was ordained a Sūri, he went to Anahillapura ( v. 64). Two questions arise in connection with the statement: Whether this was Hemachandra's first visit to the capital ? and, how much time must have elapsed after his Sūri-ceremony before he reached the capital ? We have no means to answer these questions definitely.
The first meeting of Hemachandra and Jayasimha is described thus : When Siddharāja seated on his elephant was going out for his usual outing (known as Rājapātī ) through the city he saw Hemachandra standing aside near a shop. He stopped the elephant near a mound and asked the sūri to say something. Hemachandra uttered a verse : Oh Siddha ! let your majestic elephant move fearlessly. The Diggajas (Elephants of Directions) niight tremble. Don't mind them, for, you bear (the burden) of the earth.'+ The king, who was intelligent enough, understood the meaning and was pleased with the compliment. He asked Hemachandra to see him in the afternoon for diversion (vs. 65-69).
Thus on the authority of the Pra. Cha., which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, these two remarkable men of the age-one a king and the other a monk-got into touch with each other. The contact
* If the account of the K-prabandha of the first meeting of Kumārapāla and Hemachandra when the former waited upon Jayasimha, is true, we must imagine Hemachandra to be in Anabillapura even earlier than V. S. 1181.
+कारय प्रसरं सिद्ध हस्तिराजमशङ्कितम् ।
aflara fangT: fa da Fazalgar aa: 11
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
