Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 321

STORIES OF RAUHIŅEYA AND OTHERS 281 asked by Pradyota for a remedy for it, said: “ Just as poison is a remedy for poison, so fire alone is a remedy for fire. So, have another fire made, in order that the fire may go out." The king did so and the fire was extinguished; so he gave a third boon which Abhaya kept in reserve.
At one time a great epidemic broke out in Ujjayini and Abhaya, questioned by the king in regard to its extinction, said: “Have all the queens fully arrayed come into the assembly-hall. Report to me who overcomes you by her glance.” The king did as he said. The other queens were overcome by the king's glance, but the king was overcome by Queen Sivā's. This was reported to Abhaya who said: “ Have the chief-queen Sivā herself worship the ghouls at night with an offering of boiled rice. The queen herself must throw the offering of boiled rice into the mouth of any ghoul whatever that stands up or sits down in the form of a female jackal.” Sivā did this and there was a cessation of the epidemic. The king gave a fourth boon and Abhaya made the following request:
“I, seated on the lap of Sivā on Nalagiri with you as elephant-driver, wish to enter a funeral-pyre made from the wood of the chariot Agnibhiru.” Then Pradyota, depressed because he was unable to grant the boon, dismissed the son of the lord of Magadha, making the añjali. Abhaya made the assertion: “I was led here by you by a trick: I am the man who will lead you shrieking through the city by day.” Then Abhayakumāra went gradually somehow or other to the city Rājagpha and, clever, remained there for some time.
Then Abhaya went with two beautiful courtesans to Avanti in the guise of a trader and took a house on the king's highway. As he went along the road, Pradyota saw the girls who looked at him with amorous gestures. So, after he had gone home, infatuated Pradyota sent a go-between to make entreaties, whom they angrily repelled. On the second day, the go-between made entreaties on behalf of the king, and was rejected by them angrily, (but) slowly. On 36 M