2023-02-26 04:07:41 by ambuda-bot
This page has not been fully proofread.
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
37
Mahāśvetā as a Candala woman.' 'When Jābāli said this much,'
went on the parrot, 'I remembered my former birth. The
sage then asked his pupil to take me to the Caṇḍāla maidan
and tell her as follows: Mahāśvetā! Know that this parrot is
the object of your cherished desire. Take him to Sūdraka,
the king of Malavas, and your desires will be realised. The
king was Nandikeśvara, (the chief attendant of Siva) in his
former life. He was cursed by goddess Bhavanī to be born
as a king. When he listens to the story of Candrāpīḍa as recited
by the parrot, he will give up his passion for the conquest of
the regions and will follow the path of Trivarga (Dharma,
Artha and Kāma) with his four wives.' The pupil accordingly
took me to the Candāla maiden; and, she in her turn, to king
Sudraka; and, as desired by him, I told him my story. Soon
after, there came down through the rays of the moon, my
former body and also that of Mahāśveta. We shuffled off
our accursed bodies and assumed our original forms. All our
woes are gone; we have now come to see you.'
(Av. Sāra V. 142-49)
After narrating their story,' Mandakini resumed, 'the
happy pair left me; and I went to worship god Mukunda. The
god said to me, 'Grieve not my child. You will soon join your
husband of divine origin. Once, my son Samba sported on a
lake and the sage Jaritāri was also sporting there in the form
of a swan. Samba caught hold of the swan and fettered his
feet with the fibres of lotus stalk. The sage inflicted on him
the curse May your feet be fettered in another birth. Samba
is born as prince Rājavāhana for the destruction of Asuras.
Your husband has taken many births on earth, and Raja-
vāhana will deliver him from mortal life. Your husband will
obtain. with his aid, a fiery chariot to ride on, and will be
known as Agniratha. Yajñavati, wife of Samba, is now born
as princess Avantisundarī. Please, give this crest-jewel to
the prince which gives the wearer immunity from the ills of
man.' With this message of the god, I returned home and was
biding my time. Now by your kindness have come upon this
happiness."
Mandākinī having related her story took the god-given
gem from a casket and put it on the tuft of hair of the prince.
Mandakini and Agniratha were exceedingly grateful to the
37
Mahāśvetā as a Candala woman.' 'When Jābāli said this much,'
went on the parrot, 'I remembered my former birth. The
sage then asked his pupil to take me to the Caṇḍāla maidan
and tell her as follows: Mahāśvetā! Know that this parrot is
the object of your cherished desire. Take him to Sūdraka,
the king of Malavas, and your desires will be realised. The
king was Nandikeśvara, (the chief attendant of Siva) in his
former life. He was cursed by goddess Bhavanī to be born
as a king. When he listens to the story of Candrāpīḍa as recited
by the parrot, he will give up his passion for the conquest of
the regions and will follow the path of Trivarga (Dharma,
Artha and Kāma) with his four wives.' The pupil accordingly
took me to the Candāla maiden; and, she in her turn, to king
Sudraka; and, as desired by him, I told him my story. Soon
after, there came down through the rays of the moon, my
former body and also that of Mahāśveta. We shuffled off
our accursed bodies and assumed our original forms. All our
woes are gone; we have now come to see you.'
(Av. Sāra V. 142-49)
After narrating their story,' Mandakini resumed, 'the
happy pair left me; and I went to worship god Mukunda. The
god said to me, 'Grieve not my child. You will soon join your
husband of divine origin. Once, my son Samba sported on a
lake and the sage Jaritāri was also sporting there in the form
of a swan. Samba caught hold of the swan and fettered his
feet with the fibres of lotus stalk. The sage inflicted on him
the curse May your feet be fettered in another birth. Samba
is born as prince Rājavāhana for the destruction of Asuras.
Your husband has taken many births on earth, and Raja-
vāhana will deliver him from mortal life. Your husband will
obtain. with his aid, a fiery chariot to ride on, and will be
known as Agniratha. Yajñavati, wife of Samba, is now born
as princess Avantisundarī. Please, give this crest-jewel to
the prince which gives the wearer immunity from the ills of
man.' With this message of the god, I returned home and was
biding my time. Now by your kindness have come upon this
happiness."
Mandākinī having related her story took the god-given
gem from a casket and put it on the tuft of hair of the prince.
Mandakini and Agniratha were exceedingly grateful to the