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CHAPTER I
FIVE PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS
Om! Homage to holy Santinatha, all of whose impurity has been extinguished, the sixteenth Arhat and the fifth cakrin.
I shall celebrate his life, which was extremely pure, the only sun for the destruction of the intense darkness of delusion.
Incarnation as Śrīṣeņa (3-90)
In this very Jambudvipa, which is a circle in shape, there is this zone Bharata which is like the seventh part of the moon. In its southern half there is a city, named Ratnapura, which resembles the city of the gods, the ornament of the middle section (of southern Bharata). In this city there was a king, named Śrīṣena, lotus-eyed, like a blooming lotus for the dwelling of the goddess Śri. Continually, he showed great respect for dharma like an elder brother; and he guarded wealth and love uninjured like younger brothers. He fulfilled constantly the requests of petitioners; but, on the contrary, not those of other men's love-sick wives, as he was well-versed in proper conduct. His beauty was so apart from all comparison that he was beyond the range of even a picture by painters. While preserving his sovereignty first in tribute, he worshipped compassion like a wish-granting deity.
His wife, named Abhinanditā, was irreproachable in conduct, delighting the heart by her speech, moonlight to the lotus of the eye. She did not deviate from good conduct at all, even in thought, but adorned herself with it. For outer adornment is of little importance. Even ornaments were ornamented by her when she put them on her body, but they were really a burden to her naturally fair. There was a counterpart in mirrors, and nowhere else, of her form
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