________________
124
Life and Stories of Pārgvanātha
seemed offal; water, poison; the palace, the house of Yama (Pluto); the bed, like arrows; sandal, the groundup body of my brother; my horse, an ass; my chair of state, an old winnowing-shovel; my jewels, chains; my necklace, a wreath of pots; my turban, a crown of thorns. My attendants seemed like lunatics; the soldiers, like executioners; music, like the confused beating of drums; and the poets seemed engaged in senseless shrieking. But to-day the world seems full to me, because the blessed Çīlamatī has conferred upon me the gift of abhaya' (520). The king thus became aware of Çilamati's superior character, showed her affection and made her chief queen. Vasanta also henceforth, by the king's favor, lived happily and prosperously; in due time he took the vow, died, and went to heaven (439-532).
Story of the four merchants' sons, and of Sundara 22
Pārçva then turns to the exposition of dharmopastambhadāna, ‘furnishing support to religion' (v. 273), by gifts to mendicants of food, shelter, medicine, clothes, and utensils, illustrating by story: During the rule of King Jayanara there lived in Jayapura four rich merchants' sons who were friends: Candra, Bhānu, Bhīma, and Krşņa. They lived in luxury on their parents, until they reached manhood. Then Candra bethought himself that the time liad come to support himself; his friends fell in with his state of mind. They communicated with their parents, who warned them of the dangers of travel by sea and in strange lands. In the face of these warnings, and notwithstanding unfavorable omens, they started upon an expedition (563). A violent storm wrecked their ship, but Candra saved himself upon a plank.28 Deeply de
The same story, with changed names in Kathakoça, pp. 70 ff. ** See note 13, on p. 49.
