Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 324

THE KILLING OF RĀVANA
289 Cure of Laksmana (260-301) Now, a certain Vidyādhara approached Bhāmaņdala, who was guard at the east gate of the wall in Padma's army, and said: "Show me the honored Padma, if you are indeed a friend of his. I shall be able to tell you a restorative for Lakşmaņa. I am your benefactor." Bhāmaņdala took hold of his arm and led him to Padma's lotus-feet. He bowed and explained: “I am the son, Praticandra, of King Saśimandala, lord of Sangītāpura, by his wife Suprabhā. For amusement one day I set out in the air with my wife and was seen by the Vidyadhara, Sahasravijaya. Then he fought me for a long time from hostility arising from my marriage and I was made to fall to the ground by the spear Caņdarava which struck me. Falling to the ground in the garden Mähendrodaya in the city Sāketa, I was seen by your brother Bharata, very compassionate. At once the king sprinkled me with perfumed water and the spear went away from me like a thief from another man's house. I, astonished by the immediate healing of the blow, asked him about the power of the perfumed water and your younger brother related:
'A caravan-leader, named Vindhya, came here from Gajapura. One of his buffaloes, worn out by an excessive burden, fell on the road. The people of the city walked over him, stepping on his head, and the buffalo died from the great injury. From involuntary destruction of karma he became a god, a Väyukumāra, named Pavanaputraka, lord of the city Svetānkara. Knowing his former death by clairvoyance, angered, he made various and numerous diseases in this city and district. But there was no disease in the territory and house of my uncle, King Droņamegha, though living in my country. I asked him about the reason for the freedom from disease and Droņaghana said:
"My wife, Priyankarā, was formerly severely afflicted by disease. By the power of the embryo which developed