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Story of Vanarāja
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Story of Vanarāja, the waif who became king 28 Aryadatta's exposition turns now to the third variety of worship, namely, by song of praise (arcā). This is illustrated by story: In the city of Kșitipratişthita, under the rule of king Susthita, lived a young man of good family, .but orfaned, poor, and evil-minded. He begged from house to house in the city, but on account of his shabby appearance, got nothing, and finally left tho city in disgust (513). In a wood he met a Sage, who preached to him the Law. Impressed by the sermon, he showed reverence to the Sage, asked for help in his sore plight, and was advised by him to address a certain song of praise to the Jina. He did so, adding a prayer that he might attain to the exalted station of king Susthita. In due time he died, and was reborn as the child of a servant woman in the house of Soma, the king's Purohita (542).
This event was reported to the Purohita, as he was sitting in the durbar next to the king. On hearing it he was surprised, his head shook, and his nails split ominously. The king, noticing this, asked him to explain. The Purohita told him that a slave-girl in his house had brought forth a son, destined to usurp his, the king's, royal power (547). The king rose from the throne and dismissed the assembly. He reflected that fate might indeed bring about this seemingly impossible consummation; that the boy might usurp his kingdom over the head of his own son; therefore he decided to cut out the disease, while it was still curable. He ordered a cruel retainer, Canda, to slay the infant son of the servant woman. At
» A close parallel to this story in Kathakoça, p. 168 ff. See also Chavannes, Cinq Cent Contes, nr. 45; and Hertel in ZDMG. Ixv. 447 ff., 454 ff. The story seems to have an historical kernel; see Prabandhacintămani, pp. 32 ff.; Stevenson, Heart of Jainism, p. 82.
