Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 183

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CHAPTER TWO
Sagara was first among them. At Sagara's command a woman door-keeper, named Mandodari, went to King Ayodhana's palace every day. One day Diti went into a plantain-house in the palace-garden with Sulasā' and Mandodari went also. Wishing to hear their conversation, Mandodarī clung to the creepers. Diti said to Sulasa:
'Child, there is great anxiety to me in this svayamvara of yours. The choice depends on you. So listen to the whole thing from the beginning. There were two sons of Rşabha Svāmin, Bharata and Bāhubali, who had descendants, whose sons were Sürya and Soma. My brother, Trņabindu, was born in the Soma-line; your father, King Ayodhana, was born in the Sürya-line. Ayodhana's sister, Satyayaśas, became the wife of King Tộpabindu and their son was Madhupingala. I wish you to be given to him, fair maiden, but your father wishes to give you to a husband chosen at a svayamvara. I do not know whom you will choose. This is a worry to me. You must choose my nephew among the kings.' I
Sulasă agreed to her instructions and Mandodari told King Sagara what she had heard. Sagara instructed his family-priest, Viśvabhuti, and he, a poet, immediately composed a treatise on the characteristics of kings. In this he wrote in such a way that Sagara became endowed with all royal characteristics and Madhupingala was devoid of them. He put the book in a box as if it were ancient and took it into the royal council one day at the king's command. At the beginning Sagara said that whoever was deficient in proper characteristics according to this book when it was read should be killed and abandoned by every one. As the priest read the book, Madhupingala became ashamed because he was lacking in proper characteristics. Madhupingala went away and Sulasă chose Sagara. The wedding took place at once and they all went to their respective homes.
Madhupingala practiced foolish penance because of his humiliation and died; he became an Asura, named