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126
Life and Stories of Parçvanatha
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but keeping himself alive, on account of his promise to the king (597). Finally, he decided to cast her bones into the Ganga during his lifetime. There the daughter of the king of Benares, also Sarasvati by name, heard him wail, asked his story, and, on hearing it, fell into a faint. Restored by her companions, she told the king, who had been cited to the spot, that she had remembered her former existence, in which Bhanu had been her husband. The king married her to Bhānu, and they lived together in happiness (605). Later on the king took the vow, leaving Bhānu to rule in his stead. Suddenly Sarasvati sickened of an incurable fever. Bhānu, in despair, went to the seventh story of the palace 25 to cast himself down. A Caraṇa Sage, wandering over the heavens, stopped him, and advised him to resort to the dharma and the Jina. Bhānu blissfully consented; went with the Sage to Sarasvati's bedside; she was cured, and also converted. They lived in royal splendor, until they took the vow, making over the kingdom to their son (576-619).
Story of the four merchants' sons, continued
The Sage who was instructing Candra then continued: 'Now I am Bhānu; desist, O Candra, from suicide thru ignorance!' Candra asked how he was to get over his grief for the loss of his wealth and friends. Bhānu recommended the (fivefold) obeisance to the Lord, warned him against the desire of having things too much his own way (atilaulya), illustrating by two parables (619-629):
'See note 8, on p. 46.
