Life and Stories of Jaina Savior Parcvanatha

Author(s): Maurice Bloomfield
Publisher: Maurice Bloomfield

Page 55

Kamatha and Marubhūti
41
tary ascetic do with so much ghee, if he does not even now let up?' As fast as he was thus doubting, he kept falling step by step from the world of gods which he had been reaching thru his good deed. The Sage, who knew this, explained to him the wonderful virtues of giving, and the injurious effects of doubt (798-814).
Frame Story: The enmity between the brothers Kamatha
and Marubhūti, continued
In consequence of the instruction of the Royal Sage Aravinda, Sāgaradatta became a Jain disciple (çrāvaka). Going on his way, Sāgaradatta arrived at the place where the elefant king, Marubhūti, was in the habit of disporting himself with his females. Sāgaradatta camped on the banks of a beautiful lake. The elefant Marubhūti came there to drink, and proceeded to attack Sāgaradatta's caravan, slaying and dispersing. Aravinda knew thru his profound insight (avadhi") 35 that the time to enlighten the elefant had now come. He placed himself in kāyotsarga position; the elefant came to his side and revered him. Aravinda reminded him of his former state as Marubhūti, and exhorted him to abandon his mad folly. Marubhūti then remembered his former birth as a Crāvaka, paid his respects to the Sage, and signified with his trunk that his faith was restored. Varuņā, his mate, as well as many people, including Sāgaradatta, accepted the faith. Then Aravinda retired to the mountain Kāilāsa; the elefant Marubhūti lived piously on sunwarmed water and dry leaves, repenting that he had inflicted destruction and terror upon living beings (815857).
* See for this term, Leumann in Tawney's Translation of Kathākoça, p. 241 note.