Life and Stories of Jaina Savior Parcvanatha

Author(s): Maurice Bloomfield
Publisher: Maurice Bloomfield

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Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
by his mockery, as if by a knife fresh from the whetstone, went to the forest, stood under a banyan tree and, called the Forest-divinities (vanadevyaḥ) and the Worldprotectors (lokapālāḥ) to witness that Truth alone is victorious. The divinities showered flowers upon him. He then plucked out his eyes,s and gave them to Sajjana, who rode off, recommending him to live on the fruit of the tree whose blossoms destroy all prosperity, whose branches endow with virtue. The prince, in great despair and want, still clings to virtue: · Virtue alone is permanent, there is no other road to success in the three worlds!' (191-207).
After sunset Lalitāñga, alone under the banyan tree, overheard ' some Bhāraņda-birds asking a certain old bird in their midst to report the news. He narrated, to wit: 'In the city of Campā rules Jitaçatru who has a daughter Puşpāvati, dearer than life. Her charms of person are perfection itself, but a trick of destiny has rendered all vain, since she is blind. 10 On a certain occasion the king sat in the assembly-hall, his daughter on his lap, reflecting that she could not be married on account of her bodily defect. . He then proclaimed, by beat of drum, 11 that he who would furnish sight to the princess should obtain her as wife together with half the kingdom.' 12 Then a young bird asked the old bird : * Father, is there any means by which her eyes may be restored?' The old bird first answered evasively,
. På pamkara takes out his brother's, Ksemamkara's, eyes, Ralston, Tibetan Tales, p. 282; they are later restored. Loss and restoration of eyes also ZMDG. Ixi. 50; Parker, Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, vol. I, p. 386, bottom.
See additional note 2 on p. 185. See Benfey, Pañcatantra i. 370.
See additional note 3 on p. 185. s See additional note 4 on p. 186.