Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 190

150
CHAPTER SIX seven divisions of royalty.152 Prabhāvati, Padmāvati, Msgāvatī, śivā, Jyeșthā, Sujyeștha, and Cillaņā were their names in order. But Cetaka, a layman observing restraint in regard to other marriages, did not give the girls to anyone, remaining indifferent, as it were.
After their mothers had obtained permission from Cetaka even though he was indifferent, they gave five girls to suitable husbands. Prabhāvati was given to King Udayana, lord of Vitabhaya; Padmāvati to King Dadhivahana, Lord of Campā; Mțgāvati to King Satānika, Lord of Kausāmbi; sivā to King Pradyota, Lord of Ujjayini; and Jyeșthā to King Nandivardhana, Lord of Kundagrāma, who was the elder brother of Śrī Vira; according to their liking. Sujyeșthā and Cillaņā remained maidens and the two of them were compared with each other for beauty and grace. Possessing divine figures with divine garments and ornaments, they were always together like the two constellations, the two Punarvasus. Expert in the collection of arts, knowing the esoteric meaning of the scriptures, they were happy with each other, like two personifications of Sarasvati. Together they worshipped the god, together they listened to dharma, together they did everything, just as if the two had one soul.
One day an old female ascetic came to the women's quarters adorned by Sujyeșthā and Cillaņā. With her cheeks puffed out, she expounded to them, as if to an ignorant assembly, dharma which had its root in cleanliness, destructive of evil. Sujyeșthā said: “Oh! cleanliness 153 has the form of a channel of impure things! How can an impure channel, a source of evil, be of any use for destroying evil?” So Sujyeșthā, excelling in good qualities, scorned her dharma with words armored with reason, like water-troughs to the well of the scriptures. Then the slaves of the women's quarters laughed at her,
152 186. MW gives these as 7-9. Hem, takes 7: king, minister, friend, treasure, territory, fortress, army. Abhi. 3.378.
153 199. The sauca that is an “impure channel,” is mere physical cleanliness.