Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 372

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CHAPTER TWELVE go, who from birth have not abandoned the pleasures of love, Supreme Lord?” The Master said, “They go to the seventh hell.” Kūņika asked again, “What is my future status?” The Blessed One replied, “You will go to the sixth hell,” Kūņika said, “Why shall I not go to the seventh?” The Blessed One said, “ You are not a cakravartin. Being pious, good works are considered (by you), son of Sreņika.” Kūņika asked: “Why, Lord, am I not a cakrin? My four-part army is equal to that of a cakrin.” The master said: “Sir, you have no jewels, the cakra, et cetera. Without a single jewel, the name of cakrabhịt’ is hard to be accomplished.”
After hearing that, the lord of Campā got up, a mountain of egotism, and had made one-sensed jewels of iron. He of little wit made Padmāvati a woman-jewel, and the jewels, the elephant et cetera, tormented by his desire. Conquering Bharatakşetra, Kūņika, whose power was invincible, gradually reached Tamisrā, the cave of Vaitādhya, with his army. Not knowing himself, like a crazy man, corrupted by an evil fate, he knocked on the doors of the entrance to the cave three times with a staff. The god, Kștamāla, the guardian of the cave's door, said, “Who is this who, wishing to die, knocks on the cave door, not knowing himself?” Kūņika said, “Do you not know me who have come, intending to conquer? I am a cakravartin, named Aśokacandra, who has arisen.” The god Kệtamālin said: “ There were twelve cakrins. You are seeking the unsought. Be advised. Good fortune to you, sir !” Kūņika said: “I am the thirteenth cakrin, arisen from merit that had been acquired. What, pray, is hard to acquire with merit? Do you not know my power, Kștāmāla? Open wide the door of the cave. Otherwise, you cease to exist, look you!”
From anger Kștamāla quickly reduced to ashes Kūņika talking wildly as if from a fault inflicted by the gods. After death King Aśokacandra went to the sixth hell. The speech of the Arhat does not prove false.
When Kūņika had died all the ministers installed his