________________
INTRODUCTION
45
administered some medical preparation which made me physically, mentally and morally unfit. I was unbalanced, and behaving like a mad man, I reached the Vindhya valley. Oppressed by hunger and thirst, I drank the water from a pond in which various fruits were naturally decocted; I suffered terribly from vomitting and motions; and I was completely cured of all my ailments. It was a second birth as it were, and all my faculties functioned as before. While in search of fruits and flowers, I met a dignified person followed by Bhillas. He took me to his Mahāpallī. We paid respects to Arahanta there, and spent our time in comfort. He inquired about me; and, finding that both of us belonged to the Soma race, he put me as his successor on the throne and ordered all the chiefs to obey me. He told me that though these people were Mlecchas, they had a code of behaviour (146.13-17): I was free to stay with them or go away. In course of time, as Karmas would have it, I too stooped to this profession of robbery. Just to remind me of the words of the Royal sage, I have asked this man to strike me with a loha-damda, because I had become a victim of loha (= lobha, greed).' Prince Kuvalayacandra was much overpowered by this episode; and consequently, by stressing on the rarity of Jina's instructions, he urged Darpaparigha to leave this profession and adopt the career of self-restraint and penances as preached by Jina. Lately, Darpaparigha had no news from Dțdhavarman; and when he learnt now that the prince was Kuvalayacandra, the latter's son got through divine favour, he embraced him as his brother. The prince narrated all about his journey and how he has to enlighten Kuvalayamālā at Vijayānagarī for which he wanted to start soon. Darpaparigha detained him for some time, because the sky was overcast with clouds, there were strong winds, and there were showers which brought about many changes on the earth and in the hearts of separated ladies (all described 147.13 to 148.15). When the prince decided to start on his mission, Darpaparigha wanted to leave the place and also to escort him with his army, but was dissuaded by the former. The prince paid respects to him and proceeded towards the South; and soon Darpaparigha, too, left home with a view to taking to renunciation (Page 140.1-149.3; *58.32- *61.1).
(v. Kuvalayacandra in Vijayāpuri] KUVALAYACANDRA REACHES VIJAYAPURI AND LEARNS ABOUT KUVALAYAMĀLĀ'S RESOLVE: Travelling through thick and thin and meeting various kinds of people, Kuvalayacandra reached the country of Vijayāpurī (described 149.6-17) on the southern coast. Passing through the country, he captivated many fair eyes and, in due course, came to the capital, Vijayā (described 149.20-26). As he was wondering how to meet Kuvalayamālā, he gathered from the talk of town ladies out on the streets to fetch water that Kuvalayamālā, though dark in complexion, was very beautiful (described 150.6-9), that she had hung an incomplete verse in public, and that, as prophesied, she would marry him who would complete it. Then he visited a residential school in which pupils from all parts of India (150.20) were studying different branches of learning such as, grammar, Darśanas (Bauddha, Sāmkhya, Vaiseșika, Mīmāṁsā, Naiyāyika, Anekānta and Lokāyata), different lores, arts and crafts (described
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
