Sramana 2016 04

Author(s): Shreeprakash Pandey, Rahulkumar Singh, Omprakash Singh
Publisher: Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi

Page 74

Surasundaricariam
11th Pariccheda
We have seen that in 10th chapter after Śreşthi Dhanadeva's wife gave birth to a son, queen Kamalāvatī who was present in the function, also wishes to have a child and with the blessings of Vidhuprabha given in the form of ear-rings, Kamalāvatī, the wife of king Amaraketu got pregnant. In order to fulfill the craving of pregnancy (dohada) she decided to give donations to poor and visit the whole city sitting on an elephant. All of sudden the elephant got uncontrolled and mad and took her to Padmodara pond. Sumati, the astrologer of Amaraketu proclaimed that the queen is safe and will give birth to a son but very soon she will be separated with her son. Searching her everywhere king Amaraketu found Kamalāvati in the well. She was brought out of the well. She narrated the whole story as to how she was kidnapped by the elephant, fell down in the pond, met with a group of travelers (sārtha), met with Śrīdatta, and how on the invitation of Sridatta she reached Kuśāgranagara. Kamalāvatī continued that after she joined the group of travelers, somehow she was left alone in the jungle. The jungle was full of dangerous creatures, animals and hunters. She got thirsty and in search of water she reached to a pond. There she stayed at night. At midnight she felt pain (labor) in her stomach and after some time she gave birth to a child. When she was in deep sleep, she heard someone calling her. When she awoke and proceeded in the direction the voice was coming from, suddenly she felt that her son was not there in her lap and she got fainted. Now starts the 11th chapter. After her son was kidnapped, Kamalāvati started crying. She was surprised as to how even after having that special jewel (maņi) given by Vidhuprabha with her, any demon succeeded to separate her son from her lap. Then suddenly there appeared an old lady monk having valkala and kamandalu in her hand. She came to Kamalāvati and asked her how she came to this