Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 371

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CHAPTER TEN that from abandonment of everything. But it would be very difficult for me to abandon Lakşmaņa.” The muni said: "Your power and wealth must necessarily be enjoyed. At the end of that, association being abandoned, having adopted mendicancy, you will attain emancipation.”
Former births (15-87) Bibhīşaņa bowed and asked: "Because of what action in a former birth did Rāvana kidnap Sitā and Lakşmaņa kill him in battle? Why are Sugriva, Bhāmandala, also Lavana and Ankusa, and I exceedingly devoted to Raghūdvaha ?”
. The blessed muni explained: "Here in the southern half of Bharata in the city Kșemapura there was a merchant, named Nayadatta. He had two sons, Dhanadatta and Vasudatta, by Sunandā; and they had a friend, a Brāhman, named Yājñavalkya. In this city there was a merchant, Sāgaradatta, who had a son, Guņadhara, and a daughter, Gunavati. Gunavati was promised by Sāgaradatta to Nayadatta's son, Dhanadatta, who had suitable qualities. But her mother, Ratnaprabhā, from avariciousness gave Gunavati secretly to a rich man of that place, named Śrīkānta. Yājñavalkya knew that and, unable to endure the deceiving of his friends, told his friends, the sons of Nayadatta. Then Vasudatta went and killed Srikānta in the night and Vasudatta was struck down by Śrīkānta with a sword. Both became deer in the Vindhya forest and Guņavatī, who had died unmarried, became a doe there. On her account they fought there also and died; and in the same way they passed through many births with mutual hostility.
At that time Dhanadatta, depressed by his brother's death, impious, wandering at night saw some monks one time when he was hungry. He asked them for food and one of the munis said, 'Even by day monks do not have any collection of food, drink, et cetera. It is not fitting for you to eat or drink at night, good sir. Who knows
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