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Story of the Emperor Suvarṇabāhu
tion. He cast an arrow which fell down before the king of Magadha, as he was sitting in his assembly hall. The king angrily took it up, but, when he read on it the name of Suvarṇabāhu, he went with presents in his hands to conciliate him. Suvarnabahu also conquered successively Varadāma and Prabhasa, respectively the gods of the southern and western directions; Sindhu; the divinity of Vaitāḍhya; and other kings and divinities, so as to control the whole earth (116). Kings and gods then consecrated him emperor by the great consecration (mahābhişeka), which lasted twelve years, being performed with water from holy bathing places (tīrthas). He acquired sixty-four thousand wives; thirty-two thousand kings became his vassals. He had countless elefants, chariots, cities, and villages. Thus he ruled long in all the glamour of a Cakravartin (120).
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One day, as he was sitting upon the roof of his palace, he heard of the arrival of Jagannatha, the Tirthamkara (Savior). Removing his imperial insignia, he humbly went to greet him. After receiving instruction from him, he became enlightened, and decided to devote himself to salvation. He took the vow with Jagannatha, became an accomplished disciple (gītārtha), and continued to perfect himself still farther (144). Once, when he stood with a Jain image in the forest of Kṣiragiri, he was attacked by a lion, inhabited by the soul of the Bhilla Kurañgaka,11 who had been reincarnated in the lion's body after leaving hell (see 3.1095 ff.). He died forgivingly; was reborn as a god in the Mahaprabhavimāna heaven 12; but the lion, at his own death, went to the fourth hell 13 (1-161).
Eighth pre-birth of the future Meghamålin
Ninth and last pre-birth of the future Pārçva. Ninth pre-birth of the future Meghamalin.
