Life and Stories of Jaina Savior Parcvanatha

SR No.: 011028
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Maurice Bloomfield
Publisher: Maurice Bloomfield
Publication Year: 1919
Total Pages: 271
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, N000, & N040
File Size: 20 MB

Page 134

120
Life and Stories of Pārçvanātha
armies came to grips; Vijaya was defeated, and brought back by the ministers. Then Jayanta, about to go out to battle himself, was implored by Candrasena to intrụst the command to him, which the king did. Candrasena conquered Sevāla, and was therefore appointed heirapparent to the throne in place of Vijaya (312). Shamed by his disgrace, Vijaya wandered to a deserted city,14 where he passed the night in a temple. In the morning he saw there a Sage who instructed him in the Law. In consequence thereof he took the vow, and received elaborate instructions on many points of religion. These led to the pentad of noble great vows' (sanmahāvratapañcakam), which is to be dealt with in the manner in which Rohiņī managed her pañcaka-measure of rice. Vijaya then asked to be told the parable of Rohiņi (280388): Parable showing how Rohiņī managed her pañcaka of
race 15 A merchant, Datta, desired to find out which of his four daughters-in-law was most fit to superintend his household. He gave them each a pañcaka of rice, and told them to manage it in such wise, that they could any time return the measure. The first daughter-in-law thought he was crazy, and threw the rice outside. The second thought it was sacrificial leavings, and ate it. The third kept the rice carefully. But the fourth, Rohiņi,10 sowed it, and made it multiply. After five years he asked for the rice to be returned. The first three daughters-in-law were assigned inferior duties, 17 but Rohiņī was appointed mistress of the household (389-399).
** See note 15, on p. 51. * For this parable of the talents cf. Kathākoça, p. 80. » The name Rohiņi seems to be chosen symbolically: it means Grower.' 14 See Lexical Notes, under, ujjhikā, p. 228.