Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 5

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

Page 56

PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS OF ARIŞTANEMI 25 the king. The king considered himself well just at the sight of him. The prince, compassionate, looked at the wound first and, feeling great pity, took the pearl and the root from his friend. He had the king drink the water from the washing of the pearl, rubbed the root with the water, and put it on the king's wound. The king was cured and said to the prince, “Whence did you, a brother for no reason, come here, ocean of compassion ?"
The minister's son narrated everything and the king spoke again: “He is the son of my friend, King Hariņandin. Shame on negligence that I did not know him, though the son of my brother; however, this wound of mine was the fruit of negligence.”
After this speech the king, won by his merits, insisted on giving him his daughter Rambhā, like another Rambhā 33 in beauty. After he had passed some time sporting with her, the prince left as before, accompanied by the minister's son.
He went to the city Kundapura and saw a muni, an omniscient, seated on divine golden lotuses there. After circumambulating him three times, bowing to him, and seating himself, he listened to a sermon from him that was like a rain of nectar for the ears. At the end of the sermon Aparājita bowed to him and asked him, “Am I capable of emancipation or not?" 34 The omniscient told him:
“You are capable of emancipation. You will be the twenty-second Arhat in the fifth birth.35 Your friend will be a gaṇabhệt in Bhārata of Jambūdvīpa.”
They both rejoiced at hearing this and they remained there comfortably for several days, serving the muni and practicing dharma. The muni went elsewhere to wander and they also went from place to place, worshipping shrines.
33 361. The most beautiful heavenly nymph. 34 365. Bhavya. See I, n. 3.-;
35 366. Fifth birth from this one, but the present birth is included. This incarnation is the fifth of nine, 4N