________________
128
ŚRUTA-SARITĀ
Simhala, Babbara, Angaloya, Balāyāloya, Javanadiva, Ārabaa, Romaa, Alasandavisaya and many races of Mleccha residing in Northern Veyaddha upto the end of Sindhusāgara. Then Bharata ordered Susena to open the southern doors of Timisaguhā. Bharata entered the Timisaguhā with his army and got prepared bridges on the river Ummaggajalā and Nimaggajalā and crossed the rivers and reached the other end of the Timisguhā near its northern doors and he had to fight with the Avāda cilāyas of the northern Bharata. It was not easy for the Cilayas to conquer Bharata's commander Susena. So they asked for the help from their deities Mehamuha-s Nāgakumara-s. Only to please them these deities gave trouble to the army of Bharata but at the end they surrendered and thus Bharata was able to become the Lord of northern part of Bharata. And after conquering the land of Cullahimavantapavvaya Bharata on the Usahakuda inscribed as follows:
Osappini imīse taiyãe samāi pacchime bhāe, Ahamaṁsi cakkavatti Bharaho iya nāmadhijjena / Ahamamsi padhamarāyā ahayam Bharahāhivo naravarindo, Natthi maham padisattū jiyam mae Bhāraham vāsam // p. 581.
On finding this Nami and Vinamī the Vidyādhara kings of Veyaddha mountain also accepted him as Cakravarti and in token of that Vinami presented him with itthirayana and Nami with various types of jewels. Then the Cakkarayana goes towards Gangādevībhavana in the North-east and he becomes sovereign of that part also and procures Navanihis and returns to Viniyā, his capital city and celebrations for coronation are held.
Once when he was looking in the mirror his ideas took turn towards the purification of the soul and he became omniscient. So he became a monk, travelled to Atthāvaya mountain, took the Sallehanā and was liberated.
IV. Mahābhārata etc.
The Mahābhāratas :
As regards Rsabha, in the Mahābhārata we find that in the assembly of the Rsis of Brahmā there is one named Rsabha (II. 11, Fn. p. 57). Significant is the mention in the Mahābhārata of the Rsabhatīrtha in the country of Kosala (III. 83.
according to the Jainas was ruled by Rsabha. Further a king named Rsabha is also mentioned in the Mahābhārata (VI, 10. 7).
As regards Bharata, in the Mahābhārata, the story of Bharata, the son of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
