Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 29

14
NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
died piously and attained the highest object, gods showered scented water with flowers; and to this day we have the pond Gandhavati there (Bh. 160, M. 435-39 and S. 6566). Iläputta is an example of non-attachment for the world (M. 483). King Vesamaņadasa of Kunāla had a heretical minister Rittha by name. There was a learned preceptor Usahasena who had a well-read pupil in Sihaseņa. Being defeated in a debate, that cruel Riṭṭha set Usahasena on fire one evening as he was being burnt, he died piously and attained the highest object (S. 81-84). Kandariya and Pundariya, who were destined respectively for lower and upper births, go to Anuttara region by their firm attitude for a day (M. 637). Even after staying with friends, the soul is all alone when quitting the body like Kanha at the time of his death. Kanha bad conquered anger by forbearance (M. 377, 496-97)5. The monk Kattiya (the son of king Aggi), physically dirty yet endowed with virtues. when he was wandering for food in the town of Rohiḍaya, was struck with a javelin by Kuñca. Enduring that agony he quitted the body piously and attained the highest object (S. 67-69, Bh. 160A noted by Kamptz). The monk Kālavesiya, the son of Jiyasattu of Mathura, is said to have been eaten by a jackal in his illness on the mount Moggalla (M. 498). Kidhi, the son of a householder, felt happy after abstaining from theft (Bh. 106). Kisi is wellknown for his forbearance even when he did not get food (M. 497). The merchant Kuberadatta, full of infatuation as he was, could not distinguish, like Vesiyāṇa, with whom to unite or not to unite; and had criminal intimacy with his daughter (Bh. 113). In the town of Kumbhārakaḍa there were five hundred monks, namely, Khandaya and his pupils, endowed with ascetic virtues. All of them, except one, were crushed under a wheel (or in a machine). They suffered peacefully, continuing their meditation and bearing no ill will, died piously and attained the highest object (M. 443, 495; S. 58-60). The young monk Kurudatta, while meditating with a religious vow in the forest, was
4.
Cf. Nāyādhammakahão XX and see above, p. 21. 5. Cf. Antasaḍadasão, 5th Varga, para 81.