________________
FIVE PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS
209
Kapila, who was formerly the husband of Satyabhāmā, after he had wandered for a long time in worldly existence in animal-birth-nuclei, et cetera, was bom a famous Vidyādhara-king, named Ašanighosa, in the city Camaracañcā.
Arkakirti married his star-eyed daughter, Sutārā, to Srīvijaya, Triprstha's son. Triprstha married his fair daughter, Jyotihprabhā, to Amitatejas, Arkakirti's son. Srivijaya enjoyed pleasures of the senses with Sutārā and long-armed Amitatejas with Jyotihprabhā.
One day, in an extensive garden, which resembled Saumanasa in beauty, outside the city Rathanūpuracakravāla, the three men, Abhinandana, Jagannandana, and Agnijațin,269 like the three jewels—knowledge, et ceteraembodied, made a stop. When Arkakirti knew that his father had come, and also the two gurus of his father, he came and paid homage. Eagerness admits no delay whatever.
Then Muni Abhinandana delivered a sermon which resembled the sun for melting the mass of snow of strong delusion. From that sermon Arkakīrti felt disgust with existence and, his hands placed together, said to Abhinandana, “Wait here until I come to take the vow after installing Amitatejas on my throne." "There nuust be no negligence.” So instructed by the great sage, Arkakirti went to his home, his mind already resolved. Again and again requesting Amitatejas persistently, he made him take the kingdom. For this is the custom of father and son. Then his ceremony of departure was held by King Amitatejas and he adopted mendicancy under Muni Abhinandana. The royal monk, Arkakirti, governing the kingdom of tranquillity, wandered over the earth with his gurus. Amitatejas, resplendent, the stool of his lotusfeet rubbed by the diadems of Vidyadhara-kings, directed the administration of the kingdom inherited from his father
268 158. See above, p. 208.
14
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
