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INTRODUCTION
KUVALAYACANDRA OBLIGES ALCHEMISTS: In their onward march, one night prince Kuvalayacandra saw some fire burning bright in a Vindhya valley and some people hovering about it. He left his beloved on the bed, and, duly equipped, went nearer the fire. After hearing their conversation about the colour of the flames and about the metal that was being melted), he could realize that they were alchemists (dhātu-vādins), busy in preparing gold. Lest they should be scared, the prince remained hidden watching their movements. Despite all their precautions and preparations, their experiment failed; and the metal that turned out was just copper and not gold. Defeated in their purpose and in a mood of despair, they were about to go back to their place, when the prince greeted them with success; and they, in their turn, wel introduced himself to them in a half serious and half jocular manner. He got the details from them as to what they were doing, and he requested them to repeat the experiment, so that he might put things right. He saluted the Jinas and Siddhas, and added the cūrņa as prescribed in the Jonīpāhuda: to the satisfaction of all, the gold was ready. They all submitted to him to learn the Vidyā from him. He told them that Sarvajña was the presiding deity who had given out the Jonipāhuda; and at their request, he bestowed the Vidyā on them. He asked them to call on Kuvalayacandra (i.e., himself) when he is proclaimed as king. He returned to his camp to find Kuvalayamālā awfully worried at his disappearance, and narrated to her his experience about those alchemists. Further, at her request, he explained to her the technique of alchemy (197.28 to 198.5) as prescribed in the Jonīpāhuda (Pages 195.1-198.5; *69.4-26).
[vii. Kuvalayacandra in Ayodhyā ] KUVALAYACANDRA JUBILANTLY WELCOMED IN AYODHYA AND DRDHAVARMAN'S SELECTION OF TRUE RELIGION: Next morning (described 198.7 f.),
fulfilled their religious duties; and their camp marched on in its usual bustle (described 198.23 f.). With continuous march, he reached the frontiers of his home territory, and sent the message of his arrival to King Dşdhavarman through prince Mahendra. The king gave an ovation to him. The prince got down from the horse and greeted his father by falling at his feet. Both the mother and father received him with great feelings, and learnt from him all about his career since he was carried away by the horse. An auspicious day. for his reception and coronation as an heir-apparent was duly calculated by astrologers; and on that day, Ayodhyā was live with manifold activities
9.27-30). To the joy and appreciation of the citizens, the prince came into the town, was crowned as Prince, and was, along with his wife, duly blessed by the king. After some time, the king expressed his desire to practise Dharma. He had some discussion with the prince as to which Dharma was worthy and fit to be practised. The Kuladevatā was propitiated and appealed to in the matter, and, as announced by a divine voice, the king received a costly Ms. in Brāhmi characters, the contents (described 201.33-202.30 or $ 320) of which were respectfully read by the prince. The king, however, wondered how to find out the religious teachers who preached such a religion, especially when every teacher claimed his religion to be the best. The prince planned that all
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