Life and Stories of Jaina Savior Parcvanatha

Author(s): Maurice Bloomfield
Publisher: Maurice Bloomfield

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Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
state elefant had died, he returned to the Brahman and said to him: Friend, I have a mind to disport myself by means of my science; I shall enter into the elefant, so as to see something of what is going on in the city. Do you act as guardian beside my body, so that, with your help, I shall not fail to recognize it.' Thus he spoke, there left his own body, and entered into the carcass of the elefant, which then, as before, disported itself blithely. Then that base-souled Brahman, violator of faith, betrayer of friend, reflected: Of what use to me is my own wretched body, plagued by racking poverty; I will enter Vikrama's body, and serenely rule the kingdom!' Thus he did. The fake king entered the palace quivering like an animal of the forest, because he did not know how to behave, and where to go. Holding on to the arm of the minister, he sat down on the throne; the king's retinue bowed before him. The assembled multitude cried, ' Fate has restored to life the king of the elefants, and the king of men has returned again. This is indeed sugar falling into milk ’6 (160).
But the fake king continued to act strangely, so that the people wondered whether some god or demon, in the guise of the king, had not taken possesion of the vacant throne; or whether the king's mind was not wandering. The minister decided that the king's mind was sure to be restored by the nectar of Kamalāvatī's speech, and had him conducted to her. The queen rose in confusion, and, when she looked at him, fell to the ground in a faint. On being restored, and hearing his voice, she was greatly grieved and thought, “He looks like my beloved, yet afflicts me like an enemy.' When the king asked her to explain her perturbation, she answered artfully: ' Your
The same figure, sarkarādugdhasamyogah, in 8. 1349.