Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

SR No.: 016059
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 288
Language: English
Classification: Dictionary & Dictionary
File Size: 15 MB

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established Súravega in it. Thereupon I heard from a soothsayer that you would restore to Çaçivega his kingdom. So I assumed the form of an elephant and came here to kill you. But I have been vanquished by you. Now I am disgusted with this sea of existence; take my kingdom. I will first crave the pardon of Çaçivega, and then carry out my intention. While he was saying this, Çaçivega suddenly came to the spot, and the Vidyadhara Suvega said to him : 'Çaçivega, establish as sovereign in my kingdom my relation Ratnaçikha. But Ratnaçikha and Çaçivega said to Suvega : 'Great sir, rule your hereditary kingdom ; afterwards, when you are old, you ought to perform asceticism. Though they said this to him, Suvega would not desist from his intention. He took a vow in the presence of his spiritual guide. Ratnaçikha and Suvega went to the city of Chakrapura. Ratnaçikha became king in Chakrapura. Súravega, hearing the story of his uncle, became inclined to renunciation and took a vow. He gave back his kingdom to Çaçivega. So Ratnaçikha, having attained felicity, held the government of the mountain of Vaitádhya. He had built numerous temples to the Jinas; he gave gifts to deserving persons, and caused the law to be preached at holy places. One day he saw a Tirthankara, named Sujasa, who had arrived in the city of Saketa. Then, with all the hairs on his body standing on end from joy, joining his hands on his forehead, he thus praised the mighty Jina : Hail, thou that art loving to men, whose countenance is pure as a
cloud, whose eyes and mind are impartial, Who increasest joy, who lookest with equal mind on wealth, gold,
and jewels. Having praised the mighty Jina with laudatory utterances of this kind, and worshipped the hermits of his retinue, King Ratnaçikha sat down near the Jina and listened to his sermon, which ran as follows: 'Prosperity is changeful as a wave of the sea ; youth lasts for three or four days; life is fleeting as an autumn cloud. What is the use of riches ? Practise blameless virtue.' When the king had heard this exhortation, he inquired from the holy