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INTRODUCTION
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various genders, and bestow on it fortune or misfortune, intelligence or ignorance, pain or pleasure, and various gifts and faculties etc. It is the three jewels (samyaktva (=cāritra?) jñāna and darsana) that lead the soul to the town of Liberation. At the conclusion of this discourse, a man of striking personality came there and inquired whether all that he saw in dream was true. Mahāvīra told him that it was true. Then he went away attracting the eyes of all gathered there. For the information of the rest, Gautama asked about that man; and Mahāvīra reported as below (Pages 232.5-22; *76.20-29):
PASSIONATE KĀMAGAJENDRA DUPED; AND HIS PRESENCE IN THE APARAVIDEHA AND SUBSEQUENT DīKșA: King Rañagajendra was ruling over Aruņābha. Kāmagajendra was his son. He was highly passionate. His queen was Priyangumati. One day, while he and his queen were riding a mad elephant, he saw a lovely girl, playing with a ball on a merchant's terrace, and fell in love with her. The queen, who had noticed this, arranged for his marriage with that girl, and got, in exchange, a promise from her beloved that he would disclose to her all that he saw, heard and experienced. One day, a skilled painter came to him with a portrait, and assured him that it was not just imaginary but that of a virgin princess, daughter of king Avanti of Ujjainī. Kāmagajendra was eager to secure her hand. The ministers advised him to send his portrait to her. Though she was averse to men, she liked and accepted him. He (accompanied by the queen and his retinue) started for Ujjainī for the celebration of the marriage. While camping on the way and asleep in his bed, he felt a sweet touch and woke up to find two girls of captivating beauty. On an inquiry, he learnt that they were Vidyādhara maidens. They disclosed their mission to him, after shrewdly securing his solemn promise that he would do the needful in the matter. Princess Bindumatī, they added, was the extremely charming daughter of the Vidyādhara king Pţthvīsundara (from his queen Mekhalā), ruling over Anandamandira on the notrhern range of the mountain Vaitādhya. She had devel man, and would not choose any Vidyadhara youth for her companion. Any way, her parents left this choice to her sweet will. One day while moving with her friends in a mountain valley, she heard a Kimnara couple singing in praise of the handsome prince, Kāmagajendra. After learning about his whereabouts, she developed passionate attachment for him and grew restless. The only remedy against her ailment was that she should meet him. So, as suggested by their mistress and guided by Prajñapti-vidyā, they came to him. They requested him to accompany them to their mistress who was now on the verge of calamity from which he alone could rescue her. He sought the consent of his queen who allowed him to go on an express promise from them that he would be returned safe to her. They took him immediately in their Vimāna, to the wonder and worry of the queen. On his return, he conveyed to the queen his experiences during her absence: "It was a fine flight through the autumn sky (described 238.1-5), when the mind was crowded with various thoughts (§ 336). Soon we reached a white house and entered a fine cavern; therein was seen that Vidyādhara princess on a cool bed of leaves. They announced my arrival to her, requesting her to have now her desires fulfilled. But she was found without any movements; in fine, lifeless. They began to lament for her loss (239.5-9),
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