अवन्तिसुन्दरीकथासारः /51

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SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
 
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help of his brother and the SŚabaras, he killed king Jaālandhara,

the murderer of his father. He made Mahogra the minister

of the king who succeeded Jalandhara and returned to the
ālandhara and returned to the
forest. Mahogra practised devotion to god Gaṇeśa and attained

heaven on his death.
 

 
(Av. Sāra V. 66-75; Av. portion lost)
 

 
'Diīrghadarśin was born as Prahāra, king of the Videha

country. By a curse of the goddess Ganṅgā, Gaṇeśa took birth

as a mortal; and Mahogra also came down to the earth with

the god. They were born as Apahāra and Upahāra, the twin

sons of Prahāra. Acyutaka was born as the merchant Dhana-

mitra. Evil tendencies predominating, Nityogra was born as

the hunter Candṇḍakṛṣṇa, whom Ripuñjaya put to death. After

suffering several thousands of hells, added Citragupta, 'you

have now taken birth in a Brahman family. Had you not

given up your life in saving the life of a Brahman, you would

have again been thrown into the hells as before. Re-enter the

body of Matanātaṅga and do good to the people.'
 

 
(Av. Sāra V. 75-81; Av. portion lost)
 

 
'When Citragupta finished his tale I opened my eyes as

Matanātaṅga. My relatives took me to my house and healed my

wounds. I learned the Śrutis and Srutis and Smṛtis from the old Brah-
man S
man Śantipāla whose life I had saved. I was an aspirant for

immortality and god Śiva appeared before me in person and

said, "Dear Kapiñjala! you have suffered enough from the

curse of the Moon. Hereafter you are the lord of the nether-

worlds. You can go there through a chasm in the Vindhya

forest where you will get the necessary help to enter the nether-

worlds."
 

 
To the wonderful story of Matanga the prince and his
companions listened with interest and spent a few pleasant
ātaṅga the prince and his
companions listened with interest and spent a few pleasant
days in his company. One night Matanātaṅga took the prince away;
from his sleeping companions and set out to the netherworlds.

from his sleeping companions and set out to the netherworlds.
Proceeding along a mechanical pathway as instructed in

books on Bilakalpa they saw a beautiful city surrounded by a

fort made of copper. Matanātaṅga bathed in a pool; and asking

the prince to ward off obstacles, began to offer oblations in the

sacred fire and finally threw himself into the flames. Soon

after, he rose from the fire adorned with a sword in his hand,

bracelets in his arms and a crown on his head and seated in a

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