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INTRODUCTION
since then he had been residing here. The prince realized that Darpaparigha was his uncle's son. He instructed him in the words of Jina and urged him to adopt good conduct. After the rains were over, Kuvalayacandra travelled to the South, and Darpaparigha soon took to renunciation (88 223-41).
Kuvalayacandra reached Vijayāpurī. There he learnt from popular gossip that princess Kuvalayamālā was very beautiful; she had hung in public an incomplete verse; and she would marry him who completed it. When he came to the royal court-yard, he at once hit on the rest of the verse. Just then, the state elephant was running amuck. The prince brought it under control to the dismay of one and all. He recited the complete verse to the satisfaction of princess Kuvalayamālā who garlanded him and chose him as her bridegroom. Mahendrakumāra also was there by that time, and he gave an account of the prince etc. to king Vijaya. Though there was suspense of separation after the first meeting, Kuvalayacandra and Kuvalayamālā exchanged affectionate messages and love-presents, learnt more and more about each other, and at last their wedding was celebrated with great pomp. They had a happy time full of pastimes and enjoyments of various types. Finding an occasion the princes narrated their past lives and requested her to accept Samyaktva which she did (88242-84).
On receiving a letter from Ayodhyā, prince Kuvalayacandra accompanied by his beloved and Mahendrakumāra, started to meet his parents. They had auspicious sakunas on the way. After reaching Sahya, they paid respects to a saint. They learnt from his autobiography that he was enlightened by seeing the paintings of the Samsāra-cakra, wherefore he entered the ascetic order. This made Mahendrakumāra firm in his Samyaktva. The prince met som on the way and helped them in their task. He reached the outskirts of Ayodhyā. He was lovingly welcomed by his parents, and was soon crowned as heir-apparent, to the joy of the whole town. After a good deal of discussion, the right Dharma was discovered as directed by the Kuladevatā. Putting the prince on the throne, Drdhavarman practised religion and his Karmas were nearly destroyed. Kuvalayacandra ruled for many years. God Padmakesara (<Mohadatta) was born as a son to him, and he was named Pșthvīsāra. Seeing the memento, he had detachment for worldly life right from the beginning. Both Kuvalyacandra and Kuvalayamālā remembered about their earlier resolve and decided to take to religious life. They happened to meet saint Darpaparigha who told them that it was his Guru that gave dikşā to Drdhavarman, and consequently both of them became Antakst Kevalins. Inspired by this, Kuvalayacandra, Kuvalayamālā and Mahendra accepted renunciation and practised severe penances. Kuvalayamālā was born in the Saudharmakalpa. Kuvalayacandra was born as (v) a god in the Väidūrya-vimāna which was reached by the Lion also. (S$ 285-336). Then, in the age of Mahāvīra, the soul of Kuvalayacandra came from heaven and was born as (vi) Manirathakumāra who became very much addicted to hunting. Mahāvīra informed his father, Kāñcanaratha, that, though addicted to hunting, he was a bhavya and would attain liberation in that very birth. A deer, once the husband when he was Sundarī in an earlier life, would make him religiousminded. Manirathakumāra soon accepted renunciation. Advised by Mahāvīra, he cultivated fourfold ārādhanā, became an Antakrt-kevalin and attained liberation. (88 339-354, 413).
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