________________
214
CHAPTER ONE I agreed, "That is a suitable idea,' and went to the Jina's temple and remained there on a bed of darbha, observing pausadha.275 They conducted themselves toward Vaisravana's statue as if it were the king. For wise men go to another master even for their master's benefit. When the seventh day came, a cloud arose in the sky at noon, thundering very violently, terrible like the clouds at the end of the world. From that dreadful cloud, as if splitting the universe, a thunderbolt fell on this Yakşa who had been made king. When the bolt of lightning fell on that Vakşa, there was a rain of jewels, et cetera on the astrologer, made by the women of the household, et cetera. The best of astrologers endowed the town of Padminikhanda with unbroken wealth and was dismissed by me. I had a new statue of Vaiśravaņa made at once of divine jewels, since he was my brother in misfortune. So these citizens, ministers, et cetera are holding a great festival, the crest-jewel of all festivals, from joy at the allaying of my trouble.”
When he had heard this story, Amitatejas joyfully honored his sister, Sutārā, with gifts of clothes and ornaments. After he had passed some time with Sutārā and Srivijaya, Amitatejas went to his own city.
Kapila's incarnation as Ašanighoșa (240-445)
Then King Srivijaya went with Queen Sutārā to the garden Jyotirvana with a desire for amusement. At that time Aśanighosa, Kapila's soul, was flying through the air, after subduing the vidyā Vipratāraṇikā, and saw Queen Sutārā, his wife in a former birth, a beautiful married woman, pleasuring with her husband. Though he did not remember the relation from the former birth, from infatuation he felt a longing for her like his own wife. By the power of a vidyā, he created a golden deer, captivating the eye, running before them like a divine ball. When Queen Sutārā saw it adorned with hooves and horns
875 230. See I, p. 208.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
