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CHAPTER II ABHINANDANACARITRA
I praise the Lord Jina, son of Srimat King Sarvara, a Nandana of the trees of virtues, delighting the world, Abhinandana. I shall relate the Lord's splendid life, which is a pitcher of the nectar of knowledge of the fundamental principles, daylight to the sleep of delusion of people capable of emancipation.
Incarnation as Mahābala (5-20) In the East Videhas of this same Jambūdvīpa there is a province, fair Mangalāvatī, the abode of wealth and happiness. In it there is a jewel of a city, Ratnasañcayā, the crest-jewel of the earth, a mine of all jewels, like the ocean. In it there was a king, like Kubera in wealth, like another wind 888 in strength, named Mahābala. He was resplendent with regal powers-energy, good counsel, and preeminence of treasure and army, like Himavat with the rivers Gangā, Sindhu, and Rohitānšā.897 He ruled by the four methods conquering troops of enemies, like a young elephant by its tusks. He, a depository of intelligence, had regard for the Arhat alone as god, for a sādhu alone as guru, and for the dharma taught by the Jina only. He delighted in the fourfold dharma with the divisions of liberality, good conduct, penance, and state of mind, since merit of the great is allied to merit.
398 5. Mahābala? It would be more satisfactory if this could be identified as a person in accord with the comparison with Kubera. But, though Mahābala occurs often enough as a proper name, there is no one with whom a comparison is suitable. Wind is often used as a term for strength. Cf. 4. 2. 174.
397 6. See above p. III, and K., p. 220,
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