Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 79

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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
thee thus : “ "O ho, Kāmadeva (as above, S 95, down to) thou shalt be deprived of thy life." " Now thou, being thus spoken to by that deva, showedst no fear (as above, & 96, down to) remainedst engaged in the meditation of the Law. (Exactly in the same way, without any detailed description, the two other persecutions should also be repeated, downı to where it is said, § 113, that the deva returned.) Surely, Kāmadeva, this account is correct?"
Kamadeva replied : "yes, it is,"
119. Then turning to his venerable companions, the Samana, the blessed Mahāvīra, addressed the many male and female Niggantha ascetics who were with him, and spoke to them thus : "Surely, Venerable Companions, if those servants of the Samana, who are householders living in the midst of householders, bear (and so forth, down to) suffer with perfect composure persecutions proceeding from devas men and animals, then much more. Venerable Companions, must the Niggantha ascetics who are students of the sacred collection of the twelve Angas, are able to béar (and so forth, down to) suffer with perfect composure the persecutions proceeding from devas, men and animals."
120. Then those many male and female Niggantha ascetics, saying "so it is," reverently assented to that opinion of the Samaņa, the blessed Mahāvīra.
121. Then that Kāmadeva, the servant of the Samana. being happy and pleased (and so forth, down to) asked various questions of the Samaņa, the blessed Mahāvīra; accepted the replies given, and respectfully took leave of the Samaņa, he blessed Mahāvīra; and having done so, he returned to the place whence he had come. . 122. Then the Samana, the blessed Mahāvīra, at some time or other, departed from Champā; and having done so, he abode elsewhere in a different country.
123. Then that Kāmadeva, the servant of the Samana, engaged in conforming himself to the first standard of an uvāsaga.
124. Then that Kāmadeva, the servant of the Samana having sanctified himself by many exercises (and so forth, as above, SS 66 and 89), and having followed the profession of a servant of the Samaņa for twenty years, and having