Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 366

CHAPTER TWELVE
became distressed in turn. Then a goddess, angered at the ascetic Külaväluka, standing in the air, said this to the miserable Aśokacandra: "If the ascetic Külaväluka enjoys the courtesan Magadhikā, then King Kūnika will take Vaiśāli."249
Kūņika, hearing this speech of the goddess in the air, at once breathing easier with the hope of victory produced, said: "The speech of children, the speech of women, and speech concerned with portents, they do not prove false. Where is the ascetic, Külaväluka? How will he be found? Where is the courtesan, named Magadhikā, to be found?" Hearing that, the ministers said: In your own city, Majesty, there is a courtesan, Magadhikā. We do not know Külavāluka."
326
Just then leaving half of his army to besiege Vaiśāli, the king, the lord of Campā, went to Campā with the other half. As soon as he arrived, the son of the King of Magadha summoned the courtesan Magadhikā in haste, like the best of ministers. He instructed her: "Lady, you are clever; you possess the arts. From birth you have had a constant livelihood from many men. Make fruitful your courtesan's art in my business, having delighted the ascetic Külaväluka by marriage." "I will do it," she promised, clever, and was rewarded by Campa's lord with garments, ornaments, et cetera. Dismissed, she went home and, a depository of intelligence, considered. At once, like deceit embodied, she became a fictitious laywoman. Like a laywoman from birth she showed the people the twelvefold lay-vows properly and veraciously. The simple-minded ācāryas knew her as a laywoman, constantly engaged in temple-pūjās, et cetera, devoted to listening to dharma. One day she asked the ācāryas, "Who is the sadhu, Kūlavaluka?" Not knowing her intention, they told her as follows:
249 316. The chaya of the śloka is:
gaṇikām cet magadhikāṁ śramaṇaḥ külavälakaḥ ramet kūņika ilapatiḥ tada vaiśālim grhīṣyati ||