Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 64

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doctrine of wrong-belief, seized the opportunity, and joyfully began to relate: “In your family there were formerly a king, Kurucandra, his wife, Kurumati, and his son, Hariscandra. The king was a Kaula 62 with great enterprises that caused injury and great possessions, foremost in ignoble acts, pitiless like Krtānta. Even though wicked and cruel, he enjoyed the kingdom for a long time. Verily, the fruit of previously acquired merit is unequaled. At the time of his death, a change of humors took place that resembled just a sample of the torments of hell that were near at hand. His couch' of cotton became as painful as a couch of thorns; his choice food became as bitter as a nimba.83 Sandal, aloes, camphor, and musk became offensive to him. Sons, friends, etc., caused distress to his eyes, as if they were enemies. Singing tormented his ears, like the noises of a donkey, camel, and jackal. And yet everything becomes changed when merit is consumed. Kurumati and Hariscandra watched beside him secretly with painful attentions that gave pleasure to his senses for a moment." Afflicted by fever in all his body as if touched by charcoal, engaged in evil meditation, the King died. His son, Hariscandra, performed his funeral rites, and governed the kingdom properly, a traveler on the road of good conduct. As he had seen here his father's death with the visible fruit of sin, he constantly praised dharma alone among the objects of existence, like the sun among the planets.
One day, he instructed Subuddhi, a layman, a friend from childhood, "After listening every day to dharma
62 410. A follower of left-hand Śākta. See Sadhanamālā, Vol. II. (GOS XLI), Int. p. lx.
68 413. The Melia azadirachta, vern. nim. Its fruit is noted for its bitterness.
64 416. The meaning seems to be that they bestowed attentions on him that would normally have been disagreeable, but were pleasing to him because of his perverted humors.