________________
Jain Education in
were followed by "Vasavadatta" of Subandhu, "Samaraichcha-kaha" of Haribhadra-Suri, "Kuvalaya-mala" of Udyotana-Suri alias Dakshinya-Chihna as also Lilavati, and Shringara-Manjari of non-Jain writers. The latter has been composed by King Bhoja. These novels were very popular and were largely imitated. The latter novelists praise especially Padlipta, Jivadeva and Haribhadra as great novelists, whose novels sweetened many others.
The famous Yogi Nagarjuna about the time heard of the fame of Padlipta Suri and his accomplishments in the flying-lore. Nagarjuna became the pupil of Padlipta-Suri and by virtue of his intellect found out a hundred and seven medicines used in the foot-application used for flying and with its aid attempted himself to fly but could not quite succeed. He went up and fell down like a cock and was injured. Padlipta Suri being pleased with the wonderful intellect of Nagarjuna, which without being told discovered all but one medicines, taught him the remaining one-which was rice-water instead of pure water, and Nagarjuna could thenceforth perfectly fly over any place he desired. The Yogi was also trying to acquire "Suvarna Siddhi" (Power to make gold) and for the purpose was experimenting upon mercury which had to be pestled by a Padmini or the best kind of woman. Roaming over the whole of India he learnt that the Queen of King Shalivahana named Chandralekha was a Padmini. He took her away in the midst of night sleeping in her couch by his flying lore to a Jungle near Cambay. There he requested her not be at all frightened as his object was merely to get the mercury pestled there with her hands so that it may become
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
