Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 5

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

Page 61

CHAPTER ONË Hariņandin settled the kingdom on Aparājita, became a mendicant, practiced penance, and attained emancipation. Prītimati was King Aparājita's chief-queen; Vimalabodha his minister; and his brothers were governors of provinces. King Aparājita, by whom the kings had been subdued before, governed the earth happily and enjoyed pleasures without any obstacles. Building various shrines and making pilgrimages by the lac, he passed the time, undeceived by the objects of existence.
Incident causing Aparājita's enlightenment (438–450)
One day he went to a garden and saw a caravan-leader's son, Anangadeva, very magnificent, like Ananga with a body. Noticing him surrounded by friends wearing divine garments, sporting with many beautiful young women, giving money to beggars, being praised by bards, occupied in singing, the king asked his attendants, “Who is he?". They told the king, “He is Anangadeva, very rich, the son of the caravan-leader, Samudrapāla.” Saying graciously, “I am fortunate, whose merchants even are so noble and prosperous,” Aparājita went home again.
On the next day, going outside (the city), he saw a corpse moving along, carried by four men, with a drum reverberating dismally, followed by women beating their breasts, their hair disheveled, wailing, fainting at every step.
The king asked his attendants, “Who is this dead man?” and they replied, “This is the same Anangadeva, who died suddenly from cholera.” “Oh! This worldly existence is worthless. Alas! Alas! The creator destroys the confident. Oh! The negligence of living creatures whose minds have the sleep of delusion."
Thus acquiring great desire for emancipation, Aparājita went home and, troubled, remained several days.
One day the ominiscient, whom he had seen before in Kundapura, came there to help him, knowing from his (omniscient) knowledge that he was a suitable person. After