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CRITICAL TIMES in the city of Māļava, Sindhu, and Thakka, at kañcipura, and at Vaidisa. I have now arrived at Karahāțaka, which is full of soldiers, rich in learning, and crowded (with people). Desirous of disputation, O King, I exhibit the sporting of a tiger. When the disputant Samantabhadra stands in thy court, O King, even the tongue of Dhūrjați (Siva), who talks clearly and skilfully, turns back quickly towards the nape of the neck. What hope can there be for others ? "1
So far as the above record is concerned, Samantabhadra went from Kañcipura to Karahāțaka. This epigraph does not tell us what he did at Kañcipura, although in an earlier context it narrates that Samantabhadra was skilful in reducing to ashes the disease bhasmaka (morbid appetite).? Further details of this disease and the name of the Tamil king who became his disciple are given in Jaina literature and epigraphs, with no doubt some discrepancies. For instance, Prabhācandra in his Ārādhanakathākośa makes Samantabhadra, a victim to the bhasmaka disease, roam from Kañci to Paundrapura, Dašapura, and Benares where he performed the miracle of bringing out Pārsvanātha from, an image of Siva and converted the king Sivakoti into Jainism.
But Karnāțaka tradition as recorded by Devacandra in his Rājāvaļikathe has a different version to give of the same story. Unable to get himself cured of the morbid disease, Samantabhadra approached his guru (whose name is unfortunately not given) with a request to permit him to end his life by sallekhanā. But the guru, foreseeing that Samantabhadra was destined to be a great promoter of the faith, refused to give him permission, and directed him to go to any place where he might appease his hunger and take dīksā
1. & 2. E. C. II. 67, p. 25. 3. Prabhācandra cited by Harilal, Cat. of MSS., p. X.
