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Early life of the Arhat Pārçvanātha
111
But Yavana, king of Kalinga, had been angered at the thought that Prabhāvati should be given in marriage to any one but himself. He had therefore beleaguered Kuçasthala with a great host. The speaker himself, Puruşottama, father of the minister Sāgaradatta, had been sent by Prasenajit to report these events to Açvasena, so that the latter might act accordingly (186).
On the strength of this report, Açvasena, being wroth, made preparations to go to the assistance of Prasenajit in Kuçasthala. When Pārçva heard of this, he promptly came out of his play-room; acknowledged his father's ability to prevail in war; but offered instead to gain the end in view by instructing Yavana (193). His father consented. Pārçva started with Puruşottama and a great equipment. On the way Mātali, Indra's charioteer, at Indra's bidding, offered him Indra's car and his own services as charioteer. On arriving in Kuçasthala Pārçva dwelt in a seven-storied palace, 10 erected for him by the gods in the middle of a park. He sent an ambassador to announce to Yavana his peaceful mission, advising him to abandon the siege. But Yavana refused angrily; would not hear of either Pārçva or Açvasena; and threatened the ambassador with death at the hand of his soldiers (215). An old minister of his, however, warned them not to destroy the kingdom by attacking the ambassador of the holy Lord Pārçva. After they had desisted, he soothed the ambassador's wounded feelings by promising to do honor to Pārçva (221). The minister then urged Yavana to conciliate Pārçva: a* contest with him would be like that of a spark with the sun; of a lion with a hare; of Garuda (Tārkşya) with a crow; of the elefant with
10 See note 8, on p. 46.
