Sambodhi 2004 Vol 27

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 49

Vol. XXVII, 2004
(E) UTOPTIA AND (E)UCHRONIA IN....
43
by the law of the Hā punishment alone. Although Hemacandra does not mention it explicitly, it is evident that lordship had already become hereditary. Yaśasvin, the son of Caksusmat, continued with the Hā punishment. But it did not suffice.
Then gradually the Hakāra was disregarded by the twins, like the elephant goad by elephants whose internal-ichor is appearing. Yaśasvin made the Makāra punishment to curb them. In a disease that cannot be subdued by one remedy, another remedy must certainly be applied. He, having great judgement, used the first law for a small offense, the second one for a moderate offense; and both in a serious offense.
Degeneration, however, could not be checked. Abhicandra, the son of Yasasvin, could manage with the two laws of Hā- and Ma-kāra-s, but not his son, prasenajit :
Then the twins gradually transgressed the Hākāralaw and the Mākāra-law, as those afflicted by love transgress modsty and the bounds of good behavior. Prasenajit made another law of Dhikkā, resembling a charm for terrifying the great ghost of transgression. Clever in their administration, by these three laws he ruled all the people like an elephant is ruled by the three yatas [prongs, viz., voice, foot and good).
Hemacandra tantalizes the readers by stopping at the promulgation of the third law, Dhikkā. The story then moves on to the birth of Rsabha. After several hudred lines Hemacandra re-opens the account (lines 924 ff) when the wishfulfilling tress have already become extinct. We now come to the fourth stage in the "history" of continuous degeneration. Rsabha is now the king, 'The first king of kings'. He appoints ministers and able policemen for guarding against theft, etc, creates an army of elephant-riders, charioteers and foot-soldiers. He also appoints army commanders and collected oxen, camels, baffaloes, mules", presumably as beasts of burden.21
But the wishfulfilling trees, as we have already noted, were by then extinct. How would these people, both civilians and soldiers, survive ? The account runs as follows :
At that time the people ate bulbs, roots, fruits, etc. They ate herbs also, rice, wheat, chick peas, beans, etc., grown up of their own accord like grass, uncooked. Being told by them, "This food does not digest,” the Lord said, "Crush and with your hans. then eat.” They obeyed the advice of the Lord of the world, but the food did not digest from the hardness of the herbs. Agains told by them, the Master