Lilavati Sara

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

Page 45

Lilắvati-sära
Rebirth of Jayaśāsapa as Samarasepa : His Initiation and Attainment of
Preceptorship (179-413)
The soul of Jayaśās apa descended into the womb of Bhuvanamañjari, the queen of Jayasekhara who ruled at the city of Kuśāvati. The queen saw in a dream the sun entering her mouth and in due course a son was born to her. He was named Samarasepa, was properly educated in all the fine arts and crafts, was married to thirty-two princesses, and was appointed as heir-apparent.
Once the prince went out for hunting. He pursued a jackal and pierced it with an a crow His friends commended his feat. Next day he again weot out for hunting, pursued a boar and wounded it. However, the boar bit the prince's horse with its sharp tusk and killed it. The prince rode another horse and returned home safely. Again his wicked friends praised him for his skill and valour. The aceforth the prince b.came an addict to hunting and neglected his princely duties.
During these days, the god Śūradeva rep ea bered his promise to colighten the prince. Once he appeared in the sky unseen by the prince aod recited a few morning verses censuring him for wantonly killing animals He advised him instead to hunt down his spiritual enemies such as infatuation. The prince searched for the singer, but could not find him. He again went out for hunting. He returned at noon, took his lunch and rested for a while, when the god appeared in the guise of an actor and requested him to witness a dramatic performance. The prince agreed. The actor presented a song with appropriate acting, describing metaphorically how the game in the form of various types of Karman is to be hunted down.
The prince thought that the actor was not an ordinary man. He requested him to reveal his identity. The god appeared in his original form and tried to wean the prince from transitory human enjoyments. But the latter remained unimpressed. The god realis:d through his supcrnormal powers that it would be some time before the prioce could be enlightened. So he disappeared.
Next day when the prince was sitting in the assemblof his father, a messenger from king Candrasekhara of Candrapura arrived and informed them about the curious incident realting to the king's son Haricandra thus : Prince Haricandra developed an interest in alchemy He once met with a Yogin who taught him the Yakşini-mantra and asked him to master it vader his guidance in a cemetary. When a Vetāla appeared during the