Lilavati Sara

Author(s): Jinratnasuri, H C Bhayani, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 15

Lilāvati--sāra
priest, Purandara, a mercaant and Dhana, a caravan-leader. All of them enjoyed confidence and favour of the king (1-16).
Once a Jain preceptor, named Sudharman, arrived in the city and the king went to pay his respects to him, accompanied by his queen, the four friends and the retinue (17-30) Sudharman delivered a religious discourse in which he emphasized particularly the evil consequences of the Kaşayas, viz., Krodha, Māna, Kaitava, Moha and Lobha, which respectie vely generate Himsā (violence), Mrşā-bhaạiti (untruth) Caurika (theft), Abrahma-s?ngati (lust for sensual enjoyments) and Parigraha (possessi. veness) King Vijayasena requested Sudbarman to elaborate the point further with illustrations from actual life. The preceptor thereupon pointed out a wound:d man seated to the north of the King in the assembly, and described as follows the misdeeds commitied by him in his former birihs under the influence of anger and violence (31-49),
The story of Agniśarman (50-130) There lived in the city of Kāñcangpura, a poor Brahmin named Agnisarman. His paren's ard relatives died in his early age. He was reared up by his father's friend Sivaśarman, who also gave him his daughter Soma in marriage. Agniśarman had a number of children, but he was unlucky and depended for maintenance on his father-in-law, whom, however, he always despised. Once Vişnumitra, the maternal uncle of Somā, tried to advise him not to speak ill of Sivašarman who had supported him all through his life. But being irritable and a victim of fits of bad temper, Agniśarman quarrelled with him for this. At that stage Candasorna, the maternal uncle of Agnisarman, and Gangādhara, a friend of Agnisarman, tried to intervene. But mad with rage, Agnisarman slapped Gangadhara, and went home. His wife Somā scolded him for the incident, At this he angrily left his home, lodged a complaint with the court against Vişnumitra and threw himself in a bush of thorns to commit suicide if justice was not done to him. The court summoned Vişnumitra and found him not guilty. At this Agnisarman charged the court of parti. ality and tried to commit suicide. The court wanted to punish him, but Vişnumitra appealed to the court to show mercy.
Agniśarman returned home, where his father-in-law tried to pacify him with sweet words of advice. At this Agnisarman lost his temper aud killed him. He was arrested and produced before the kiog. Somā came There with her children and petitioned for mercy for the culprit. After his release Somā tried to point out to Agnjśarman the evil consequences of his bad temper and requested him to control himself. At this he got