Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 341

306
CHAPTER EIGHT
the fourth watch of the night he saw the festival held by the gods because the omniscience of Muni Sridhara had arisen. A religious inclination was produced and he descended at once from the house and set out to pay him homage. On the way he was bitten by a serpent.
After wandering for a long time in good conditions of existence because of the good inclination, in the city Ratnapura in West Videha in Jambūdvīpa he was born the son, named Priyadarśana, devoted to dharma, of Cakrin Açala by his chief-queen, Hariņi. Though wishing to become a mendicant, at his father's insistence he married three thousand maidens, but, nevertheless, remained disgusted with existence. Having practiced severe penance for sixty-four thousand years even as a householder, he became a god in Brahmaloka.
After Dhana had wandered through worldly existence, he became the son, Mşdumati, of the Brāhman Agnimukha and his wife Sakunā in Potanapura. Expelled from the house by his father because of bad behavior, he became a gambler accomplished in all the arts and went home again. He gambled with dice all the time and was never beaten by anyone. Every day he won a great deal of money from players. After enjoying pleasures of the senses with the courtesan Vasantasenā, he became a mendicant at the end of his life and became a god in Brahmaloka. Because of the fault of deceit in the former birth, when he fell, he became the elephant, Bhuvanālankāra, on Mt. Vaitādhya. Privadarśana's soul fell from Brahmaloka and became Your Honor's brother, long-armed Bharata. At the sight of Bharata memory of his former births was produced and the elephant became free from excitement at once. For there is no harshness in discernment."
Initiation and emancipation of Bharata and others (149–152).
When he had heard this account of his former births, Bharata became exceedingly disgusted with existence, took the vow with a thousand kings and attained emancipation.