Nalrayavadanti Charita

Author(s): Ernest Bender
Publisher: American Philosophical Society

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340
BENDER: THE NALARĀYADAVADANTICARITA (TRANS. AMER. PHIL. SOC. Nala, after remaining there for a month, went with muni, Bharatakhanda was acquired by you under the a retinue consisting of the armies of all the kings to single umbrella of your rule. (312) Because you two) Kośalā to recover his kingdom and wealth. The de- tormented the sadhu for twelve hours, there resulted ceitful Kübara trembled in fear. (299) Nala (then) [for you) twelve years of great separation." was victorious in dicing and regained the entire king- Upon hearing this Nala established in the kingdom dom. [Then he gave Kübara the heir-apparentship. his son, Puşkala, 28 who was mighty and possessed (all] [While bards) extolled his virtues Nala dwelt in the virtues. (313) With Davadanti he, happy of happiness; his excellent fame spread a fragrance heart, received the restraints from the guru. Both through the three worlds. (300) Then all the kings in observed the five acäras, in conformity with the five assembly consecrated Nala king (again), and, going vows. (314) Both honored to the best of their ability [to him), embraced him in delight. (301)
the rules of conduct, the restraints, tranquility of Through punya one wins prosperity and bliss. mind, zeal for emancipation, obstruction (of new Through punya one enjoys pleasure and delight. karma), control, contentment, discrimination, piety, Through punya one gains rebirth into the noblest propriety, and devotion to the Scripture. (315) family. Through punya there are treasures of gold One day the great rşi Nala became attached in his and pearls. (302) Through punya trouble is de- mind to the pleasures of the objects of the senses. stroyed. Every honor is accomplished through punya. Then, with discrimination, in order to obstruct further Through punya the dread of disease and sorrow is karma, that prince of munis undertook (death by] dispelled. Through punya every wish of the mind starvation. (316) Upon death he became a chief god comes to fruit. (303) Through punya there is fame in the Saudharma-heaven, the treasurer of great equal to Mount Meru; through punya prosperity, wealth-the best of the gods, Dhanada by name and victory, and well-being; through punya there is enjoyed surpassing pleasures and diversions. (317) abounding praise of virtues; through punya Nala re- And Davadanti, being without transgressions and gained his kingdom. (304)
maintaining the burden of restraint with all her nature, Nala with his wife worshipped (all] the beautiful became the devi of Dhanada and was filled with great Jina shrines in the city, bathing [the images) with a bliss. (318) flood of scents, consisting of saffron, sandal, flowers, The devi was reborn as the excellent Kanakavati, and camphor, and with (offerings of] cakes. (305) the daughter of King Haricandra, lord of the city of Then he erected alms-houses and temples to the Jinas Pedhālaya. The king arranged her svayamvara. as huge as Mount Meru. Full of religious discern- The world-ruler Dhanada, being reborn, arrived there ment, the king performed and patronized in great and then married the [former) goddess. As the charmnumber pilgrimages and the drawing of rathas ing Vasudeva he delighted the Yādavas for a long (chariots) at holy places. (306) Continually enjoying time, supremely happy. While she was living in the dance, song, and delightful pleasures (and) perfect palace in the city of Bäravati (her husband's home), health and the pleasures of love, King Nala reigned the illustrious Kanakavati, like King Bharata becomwith Davadanti for many thousands of years. (307) ing omniscient through the power of her piety, ob
Then, one day, Nişadha, [who had become a god, tained salvation. (319) And Dhanada, having become arrived and said to Nala, "Listen, king, abandon the the treasure-keeper of Indra-the possessor of perfecdelightful pleasures of sense. Undertake a life of tion, firm like Mount Meru-through the instruction moral restraint and tranquility. (308) In this exist- of the Jinas, causing glory and victory, will gradually ence the pleasures of sense are cruel thieves who become purified in future existences, and, after having plunder the treasure of Discernment. What sort of a used up all his karma, will become Siva, the husband ruler is he, who does not control them? (309) Youth of Laksmi. (320) is unstable; wealth is vacillating; the senses, like F or this reason cultivate with unwavering attachpoison, are a storehouse of griefs; the jivas 27 do not ment the pure base of dharma, consisting of perfecgain satisfaction through the enjoyment of living; tion, alms-giving, good-conduct, piety, and meditamerit and sin, both, accompany them." (310)
tion. Do you, a creature of low order, like the god or After awakening him in this manner, the god went great hero, who met with happiness, good fortune, to heaven. Nala in his mind experienced extreme dis- benefit, and beauty, cultivate these [bases of dharma] affection from the world. Learning that a guru had with complete perfection by your own effort. (321) arrived in the forest, the king and queen went to
The reverend Jayakirti, prince of süris, head of the worship him. (311) After Nala had reverenced him,
noble Añcala gaccha, the ganadhara, the guru, through the guru, on being asked by Nala the connection of
whose fame destruction is driven afar, his pupil,
Rşivardhana sūri, with great joy composed in poetry the present) with his previous existences, told him all.
the adventures of King Nala and Davadanti at the "In consequence of (your) gift of milk to the excellent
28 Tawney, 1895; the son's name is Puspala. 27 See Dasgupta, 1922: 188-190.
29 The rules of conduct; Jaini, 1940: 133.