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Life and Stories of Pārçvanatha
self was the mighty physician. Then they went their way. But the Saint Sanatkumāra, having fulfilled his life, went to the Kalpa of bliss called (after him) the Sanatkumāra Kalpa (999-1231).
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Story of the two princes Pundarika and Kandarīka 57
Pārçva then turns to the exposition of the fourth division of the dharma, namely bhava, or character' (see 6. 272). This is extoled as the soul of the dharma, the friend of its heart, the doorkeeper to bliss, etc., followed by many other ecstatic similes. Its importance is illustrated, as follows (1237): In the city of Cripunḍarīkiņi ruled King Mahāpadma, whose lovely and virtuous wife Padmavati bore him two sons, Puṇḍarīka and Kandarika, both of them proficient in war and learning (çastraçāstra-viçāradau). King Mahāpadma was converted by the sermon of a Guru, who had come to the park Nalinivana in company with many Sthaviras, or Elders. He made over his kingdom to Puṇḍarika (1254). In time, the same Sthaviras returned, whereupon Pundarika, along with his brother and retinue, went out to pay their respects. Punḍarīka, in his turn, was converted, proposed to take the dikṣā,58 and to pass his sovereignty on to Kandarika (1266). Kaṇḍarika, however, himself also seized by the spirit of the occasion, insisted upon becoming monk. After some argumentation Pundarika permitted him to take the vow, and arranged a great festival
67 A Pundarika-Kandarika-(Kundarika)-kathā is mentioned in Weber, Handschriftenverzeichnisse, vol. ii, pp. 950 and 1103. But see the different story connected with the same two names in Kathakoça, pp. 13 ff. The present legend seems to be familiarly known to the Jains; see Stevenson, Heart of Jainism, p. 159.
BB Consecration for an ascetic life.
