Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

Page 49

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CHAPTER ONE
Hayagrīva said: “Sir, leave aside polite talk and tell me the truth. Do not be afraid. For reliable persons are not flatterers.” Questioned so persistently by the king, the best of astrologers considered the horoscope, et cetera, and declared perspicuously, "He who will attack your messenger, Candavega, and who will kill the lion living on the western border, he will be your slayer also." Depressed by that speech, like one away from home by thunder, the king dismissed him like a hostile messenger, after showing him hypocritical honor.
The king had rice planted in the country that had been depopulated by a young lion, in order to find out the slayer of the lion. The king ordered the sixteen thousand kings to guard the rice-sowers in turn. The kings went in turn, armed, and protected the rice-cultivators from the lion, like herdsmen protecting fields from cows. Then the king summoned the assembly with dissimulation and said to his councillors--ministers, generals, vassals, et cetera, “Now is there any long-armed son of kings, generals, et cetera, who has unequalled strength?” They replied: “Your Majesty, who is brilliant in the presence of the sun ? Who is powerful compared with the wind? Who is swift compared with Garuda? What is venerable compared with Meru? What is deep compared with the ocean? Who, indeed, is powerful compared with you by whose power the powerful have been subdued ?.”
The king said : "This is flattering talk, gentlemen, but not true. For there are stronger than the strong. This earth, indeed, has many jewels."
Then a certain minister among them, Cărulocana, spoke like Vācaspati in language whose meaning was clear, “ There are two sons of King Prajāpati who resemble gods, who look on all mortal heroes as straw."
The attack on Candavega (279-353) After he had dismissed the assembly, the king sent the messenger Caņdavega to Prajāpati on some business. The