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to the first edition of KIRTIKAUMUDİ
leave their deliberation, asked them what they were thinking about. When they explained their difficulty to her, she told them that the best way to dispose of their wealth was to keep it on the top of mountains in such a way that every body could see it, but none could misappropriate it. She explained her meaning by stating that it should be devoted to the building of temples on mount Abu, Satruñjaya and Girinār. "The ministers listened to her advice, and proceeded to execute the plan. The Prabandhas say that the work on mount Abu was progressing very slowly, and the ministers being-dissatisfied with the men in charge, went to see the state of things for themselves. When they found it was too cold for the workmen to go and work, at the recommendation of Anupamā, they ordered that each workman should have provided for him a fire to warm himself with while he working, and that ready dinner should be provided for all the operatives in the evening.
The way in which Vaslupāla and Tejahpāla became possessed of funds where with to raise these superstructures is, by the Jaina chroniclers, described as follows :When Vastupāla was appointed governor of Stambhatirtha, he found that a Mohemedan merchant, whose name was Syed, did not submit to his authority. He refused to see him and pay him homage, where upon Vastupāla declared hostilities with him. Syed called Sankha to his aid, Vastu pāla defeated him in a battle, though his army was more numerous. Syed was apprehended all his property was confiscated. When the victory and confiscation were reported to Lavanaprasāda, he ordered that all valuables should be credited to the account of the state. Vastu pāla had reported that the merchant was so rich that even the dust in his house-au (which probably meant trifling things ) was of great worth. The prince assigned the dust’ to Vastupāla. Shortly after this, some of the ships of Syed took fire, and, it is said, a large quantity of valuable metals was reduced to u dust, which, by the king's order, became the property of Vastu pāla.
In Vastu pāla charita of Harshagani, it is mentioned that when they went to a place, in Kathiavad, called Hadālaka to bury under-ground the wealth they had obtained, they found, when they dug into the earth, an immense treasure. Some say they applied this to the building of temples and other public works by the advice of their mother. Others say that while the brothers were once consulting as to what they should do with their money, they heard a Jaina ascetic recite the following verse :
कोशं विकाशय कुशेशय संश्रितालौ, प्रीति कुरुष्व यदयं दिवसस्तवास्ते । दोषोदये निबिडराजकरप्रतापे, ध्वान्तोदये तव समेष्यति कः समीपम् ॥
1. The meaning of the verse is not very clear. I understand it as follows:-Oh lotus, since it is the daytime, favourable to you, open your bud and show love towards the bee that seeks your resorts; at night who will come near you when it will be dark, or when the rays of the moon will inflict upon you severe pain.
Several words in this verse have a double meaning. In addition to the meaning assigned in the foregoing translation, कोश means a treasure; संश्रिताली means on the class of protegos; दोषोदये. when an accusation is brought; FETTO SITO may mean when the oppression caused by the exactions of the king is great. Consequently, the verse suggests the idea that a man should open his treasure and be kind to the poor about him while his prosperity lasts. No one will come near him when he is in difficulty and harassed by the accusations and demands made by the king.
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