________________
62
KUVALAYAMALA
fold Dharma and accepted dikṣā from Dharmanandana (pp. 50.1- 56.10). In due course, after following the religious routine, he was born as god (iii) Padmasara in the Saudharma-kalpa (p. 96).
From heaven, the soul of Manabhața was born as prince (iv) Kuvalayacandra, the son of king Dṛdhavarman (who ruled at Vinītā in Madhyadeśa) and queen Priyamguśyāmā who got him through the boon of the Kuladevatā (pp. 15.12 f., 21.6 f.). God Padmaprabha was born as Sagaradatta (p. 103.6) who accepted renunciation under Dhanadatta and, as a saint, developed clair voyance: he visualised the career of his other colleagues. In consultation with god Padmakesara a plan to enlighten Kuvalayacandra was hatched (p. 110.3 f.). One day, prince Kuvalayacandra went out for a ride with his companions; but his horse was possessed by Padmakesara: and he was carried to the Saint (<Sagaradatta) who had reached the spot where the Lion (<Canḍasoma) had been dwelling on the eve of its career. The Saint enlightened, and prescribed pious life to Kuvalayacandra who, in turn, whispered sacred syllables into the ears of the dying Lion which consequently was born as a god (§§ 194-6, pp. 111-12). Kuvalayacandra (as he was given to understand his mission, a part of mutual agreement of the earlier life) travelled on and passed through the Vindhyas during the summer. By the side of a lake he came across an image of Yakṣa crested with a pearl-statue of Jina. He met a Yakṣakanyā, Kanakaprabha (§§ 199-205) who was appointed to worship Jina by a Yakṣa, Ratnasekhara, who was highly benefited in his earlier life by the namaskāra offered to Ṛṣabha Jina, and, who, consequently projected himself into this image called Jinasekhara. As they parted, Ratnaprabhā gave a coil of medical herb to Kuvalayacandra to guard himself on his journey (p. 120.30).
Kuvalayacandra crossed the river Narmadā. He met in a hermitage Eṇikā and her attendant Rājakīra (i. e. Royal Parrot). The latter narrated their biography. Eṇika was the daughter of king Padma and his queen Śrīkāntā, but was picked up in childhood by her inimical husband of the earlier life and dropped in the forest where she was brought up by a deer. She was the sister of king Bhṛgukaccha who attained omniscience. Instructed by the Rājakīra she developed Samyaktva. On hearing from Kuvalayacandra that he was separated for long from his parents, she sent through Rājakīra the message of his welfare to his parents in Ayodhya (§§ 207-22).
Kuvalayacandra reached the Sahya mountain and joined a caravan bound for Kāñcīpurī. When, on the way, they were attacked by a party of Bhillas, Dhanavati, the nervous daughter of the trader, was so bravely sheltered by him that the Bhilla leader appreciated his valour and challenged him for a duel. The Bhilla chief realized that the prince was more than a match for him; so he suddenly withdrew from the field, and, as a pious follower of Jina, adopted kāyotsarga, meditating on pañca-namaskāra. The prince welcomed him as a co-religionist. They became friends. The Bhilla chief took the prince to his palli, Cintamani, and there they lived comfortably and piously. The Bhilla chief was Darpaparigha, the eldest son of Ratnamukuța (brother of Drḍhavarman) who had become a Kevalin. Due to some palace-intrigue Darpaparigha was driven out almost insane. But, in due course, he was made a Bhilla chief; and
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
