________________
114
LAUMACARIO
XV Sandhi. Defeat of Sahasra kirana and Nal a kübara
He marched against Sahasrakirana. As Sahasrakirana was coming out from water, guards informed him of the onset of some hostile king. He took his bow and stood ready to face the army (1). He comforted his highly frightened queens by telling them to fully trust the strength of his thousand arms (2). Seeing the whole army of Demons fighting from the sky with magic weapons on one side and Sahasrakiraņa alone fighting from the earth on the other, gods denounced it as immoral. Thus shamed, the Demons came down to earth and forsook the use of magic weapons. Sahasrakiraņa fought bravely (3). Hearing that Sahasrakirana, though single-handed had kept the whole army at bay, Rāvana went forth mounted upon his elephant and destroyed Sahasrakiranas chariot (4). Sahasrakirana mounting on an elephant destroyed Ravana's armour and laughed at him as a novice in archery. Enraged thereby, Rāvana struck him with a lance and with a jump captured him (5). Rāvana brought him as a captive to his residence.
Some Janghācārana sages informed Śatakara, Sahasrakirana's father, who was a recluse. He came to Rävaņa (6). He asked Rāvana to release Sahasrakirana, as he was a caramdehin (destined to get slvation during the current existence). Rāvaņa obeyed and offered Sahasrakirana his kingdom back. But the latter said: 'After enjoying such water-sports and such a fight with you, I find kingship tasteless. I prefer to strive for emancipation' (7). He installed his son in his place and renounced the world. As these news were communicated to Anaranya, the king of Ayodhyā, he too with his son Anantaratha renounced the world, putting the reins of the kingdom in Daśaratha's charge.
Rāvaņa proceeded onwards and destroying the sacrifice (of King Marutta) marched towards Magadha (8). Comforting Nārada, subduing Marut and marrying his daughter he stayed there for nine years and thence went to Magadha. He married his daughter to Madhu, the King of Mathurā, to whom Camarendra had presented Śūlāyudha. Thence he went to Kailāsa. Paying obeisance to the shrines of the Jinas, Rāvana showed to his people places where Bharata and Bāhubali had attained Nirvāņa and where being pressed down by Vālin's foot. his body was contorted (9).
Hearing the news that Rāvana was nearby Nalakūbara, the governor of Durlanghya City of Surendra, on the advice of his minister, planted machines for defence and put the Aśāli charm round the City, which was thus rendered impregnable. Rāvana's forces besieged the city (10). But they informed Rāvana that such machines were planted that nobody moving within one Yojana of their range would escape alive. Ravana was very much worried by this. Here Nalakūbara's wife Uparambhā fell in love with Rāvana and unable to bear separation, told her friend that only in meeting Rāvaņa lay the fulfilment of her youth and life (11). Her friend Vicitramālā undertook to arrange the meeting. Uparambhă told her: 'In case he shows unwillingness to accept me, tempt him with the offer of the secret of the Asali charm and promise the Sudarśana Cakra. Vicitramālā went to Rāvana and
ing obeisance Where Bharata and Palin's foot, his
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
