Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

Page 245

216
CHAPTER ONE with sandal-paste, his consciousness restored, the chief of kings cried out aloud:
"Oh! Oh! I have been robbed by fate leading you away, beautiful one. My life existed from breath having your form alone. Without you I here will fall from the weight of the burden of sorrow, like an old house deprived of the support of its pillars, wife. Oh! Oh! I, a fool, occupied with my wife's command, was deceived by the golden deer which attracted my wife. In my presence not even Takşaka could bite my wife, to say nothing of a kurkuţāhi. But fate is strong. Abandoning my life to follow my wife into the fire, I shall make up the deficit today of an evil approaching fate."
Resolute, the king adorned with her the funeral-pyre, which had been made at once, as if it were a couch in a pleasure-house. When the fire began to burn, immediately two Vidyadharas came there. One of them sprinkled the pyre with water and recited a mantra, and then Prataraņi fled with a burst of laughter. “Where is the blazing fire and where is my dead wife? Who gave that loud laugh? And what is this play of fate?” With these reflections, the king, uninjured, asked the two men of a pleasing appearance before him, “What happened?"
They bowed to the king and replied with suitable respect, "We are soldiers of the Vidyādhara-king, Amitatejas, father and son, Sambhinnaśrotas and Dīpaśikha. We set out of our own accord to worship the sacred places and images of the Jinas. As we were flying here, we heard this pathetic speech, painful to the ears to hear, which made even the animals prick up their ears: 'Oh! Srīvijaya, lord of my life, served by kings! Oh! brother Amitatejas, the equal of the sun in splendor! Oh! friend Vijayabhadra, equal in strength to Balabhadra! Oh! family-deities of Triprstha always near! Save, oh, save Sutārā without delay from this wicked Vidyadhara, like a doe from a wolf.' Learning that our master's sister was being carried off by a villain, we followed that voice, like arrows striking