Life and Stories of Jaina Savior Parcvanatha

Author(s): Maurice Bloomfield
Publisher: Maurice Bloomfield

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Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
in-law for the wrong he had done them, made over his entire kingdom to Lalitāñga, and retired to the forest (484). Lalitānga returned with Puşpāvati to his father Naravāhana, who joyfully proposed to him the succession to the throne, and his own retirement from the world (512). After a polite and lengthy discussion between the two, Lalitāõga accepted the responsibility, and ruled his dual kingdom in prosperity and happiness (455-538).
Naravāhana, now a Royal Sage (rājarși) arrived at a park near the city, to visit Lalitāñga. The latter in great joy went out with zenana and retinue to greet him. Naravāhana preached the Law with particular reference to the Jain virtue of samyaktva (perfection), illustrating by the following story (539-569):
Story of the Crāvaka 27 Gandhāra who rejected
magic art
In the city of Vasanta lived a Jain disciple, pious and virtuous, named Gandhāra. Once, when he was honoring the gods in a Jain temple, a Vidyādhara,28 named Mabājāina, admiringly offered him the choice of magic arts (vidyā). Gandhāra refused, because he was not interested in successes limited by particular conditions (āupādhika), since these result only in pain. But finally he was induced to accept a certain magic charm, which he, in turn, imparted to a friend of his, Skandila by name, because he himself had no use for it (584). Skandila went to a cemetery to execute the charm, filled a basin with live coals, and placed it under a tree. He then
»? Designation of Jaina lay disciples.
» Literally, Science-holder,' a species of demigods, famed for their knowledge of magic art, especially the art of travelling in the air (khecara).