Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 77

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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
showed no fear (as above, § 96, down to) and seeing that he was not able to cause Kamadeva, the servant of the Samana, to depart from, or to swerve from, or to transgress against the doetrine of the Niggantha, being now weary, etc. (as in § 101), slowly and gradually retired, and thus departed from the posaha-house. Having done so, he laid aside his celestial serpent form, and then exchanged it for the form of a huge celestial deva. This form had its breast adorned with a necklace (and so forth, down to) cast its radiance and splendour over all the ten quarters and was magnificent, beautiful, charming and well-proportioned.
113. The form of such a celestial deva he assumed; and having done so, he entered the posaha-house of Kāmadeva, the servant of the Samana, and then taking his stand in mid air and decked out in five-coloured garments fringed with small bells, he spoke thus to Kamadeva, the servant of the Samana: "O ho, Kamadeva, thou servant of the Samana, happy art thou, O beloved of the devas, and satisfied, successful, and fortunate, thou hast well attained, O beloved of the devas, the true object of living in the condition of human existence; for that thou hast attained, acquired and achieved such a perfect hold on the doctrine of the Niggantha. Truly, O belove of the devas, Sakka, the lord of the devas, the prince of the devas (and so forth, down to), sitting on his Sakka-named throne, in the midst of eighty-four thousands of his peers (and so forth, down to) and of many other male and female devas, has thus said: (etc.): "Truly, O devas, in the continent of Jambu, in the country of Bharaha, in the town of Champā, Kāmadeva, the servant of the Samana, in his posaha-house, keeping the posaha abstinences, practicing continence (and so forth, down to) abiding on his bed of dubbha grass, is living in conformity with the teachings of the Law which he has received in the presence of the Samana, the blessed Mahavira. Truly, no deva, nor dānava, (and so forth, down to) nor gandhavva, is able to cause him to depart from, or to swerve from, or to transgress against the doctrine of the Niggantha." Then I, not putting faith in this declaration of Sakka, the lord and prince of the devas, came quickly hither. Ah! now, beloved of the devas, thou hast indeed attained, (etc.), success,