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did go round, but he worshipped only at the Jaina temples and return The spy, who had pursued him, reported the matter to the king who later on enquired of the poet how he worshipped the deities. The poet replied that he worshipped there only where he had a scope, and added that he had no scope before Vişnu due to the invariable presence of his bride, nor before Rudra due to his being perpetually embraced by his wife, nor before Brahmu due to his being ever engrossed in meditation that one could disturb only at the risk of incurring a curse, nor before Vinayaka due to the necessity of avoiding a touch at the dish full of sweet-balls, nor before Candikā due to the fear of Mahişāsura running towards him out of the pain consequent to an onslought of her trident and spear, nor before Hanuman due to the fear of getting a slap as he is short-tempered. Moreover, how can one offer a garland to one who had no head nor a head-dress, to one who had no forehead; how can one dance or sing to one who had no eyes nor ears; how can one salute to one who had no feet 211 The poet, then added that he had a scope for worshipping only at the Jaina temples where the eyes of the deity were beautifully liquid like the nector. the face was always smiling and cheerful, and the demeanour was ever peaceful, 12
(4) Another incident is connected with the investiture ceremony (papi. trāropana) of Mahakāla (probably at Ujjayini), when the king remarked about the lack of an investiture ceremony on the part of the Jaina deities, who must, therefore, be without the sacred thread (a-pavitra), and hence impure by oblique implication, Dhanapala retorted that it was only the impure (a-pavitraka) ones who need a purifier (pavitraka); since the Jaina Tirthankaras were ever pure, they did not stand in ueed of any purifier like a thread, 18
(5) The next one also is connected with the above incident, as it seems to have occured at the porch of the Mahakāla temple where the king pointed out to the poet a sculpture and asked the reason why the Love. god depicted therein was giving a clap in the palm of his beloved Rati, The poet gave a sharply intelligent reply saying that Siva, though wellknown as an ideal of abstinence, has been even now clasping to his body his beloved out of the fear of separation. And poor public believe that he has conquered the lust. It is for this reason that the Love-god is amused and enjoys a joke with his beloved !
(6) Another incident, omitted by Prabhācandra but noticed by Merutunga, concerns the cow-worship against which Dhana pāla remarks that a cow is in no way superior to any other comparable animal. And if she is to be worshipped inspite of the absence of any special quality in her, why should a buffalo be not worshipped 214 Merutunga bas connected this dialo. gue with the occasion of a donation of cows to Dhanapala,
