Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 273

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CHAPTER FIVE
and their son was Skandaka. They had a daughter, Purandarayaśas, and Dandaka, the lord of Kumbhakārakața, married her. One day Daņdaka sent a messenger, a Brāhman named Pālaka, to King Jitaśatru, on some business. At that time Jitaśatru was devoted to the fellowship of the Arhats' religion, but Pālaka, evil-minded, began to corrupt his religion. He, possessing false belief, hard-hearted, was silenced by Prince Skandaka by reasoning harmonizing with truth. At that time he was. laughed at by the councilors and became angry at Skandaka. · One day, dismissed by the king, he went to Kumbhakārakața.
One day, Skandaka, disgusted with existence, together with five hundred rājputs took the vow under Munisuvrata. Saying, 'I shall go to Kumbhakārakața to enlighten Purandarayaśas and the people,' he took leave of the Lord. The Lord said, 'If you go there, an attack ending in death will be made on you and your retinue.' 'Shall we attain emancipation or not?' Skandaka again asked Svāmin Munisuvrata. The Blessed One explained, 'All except you will attain emancipation.' Saying, 'All this is accomplished,' Skandaka set forth..
In course of time, Skandakācārya, accompanied by five hundred munis, reached the city Kumbhakārakața. Seeing him, cruel Pālaka, recalling his defeat, had weapons implanted in the ground in the gardens suitable for the sādhus. Skandakācārya stopped in one of the gardens and Dandakan came with his attendants to honor him. Skandaka delivered a sermon and many people rejoiced. At the end of the sermon King Daņdaka, delighted, went to his own house. Pālaka, evil-minded, went to the king secretly: 'Master, Skandaka is certainly a hypocritical heretic. A great rogue, he has come here with a thousand soldiers in the guise of monks to kill you and take your kingdom. Let the king believe this, when he has seen the weapons hidden secretly by the soldiers disguised as monks in the garden here, his own place.' Then the king