Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

Page 192

INTERVENING STORIES
163
25. The previous birth of Sagara or the story of Rambhaka :
Sagara had helped Sahasranayana in attacking Purnaghana so he further asked as to what was the cause of his sympathy for Sahasranayana. Then Ajitanātha narrated the story (5.112-119) illustrating the good results of having sympathy and love for others.
Rambhaka became a celestial being on account of the offerings made to a monk. He was reborn successively as prince Vakrakirti at Candrapura, a celestial being and then as the son of Candramati and Mahāghoṣa of Ratnasañcayapura in Aparavideha. He renounced the world and was reborn as a celestial being in the Prāņata Kalpa, and thereafter as Yaśaskirti, the son of Yasodhara and Jaya in Pșthvīpura. He renounced the world and was reborn in the Vijaya heaven. From there he was reborn as Sagara. As Āvaliya was very dear to Rambhaka so Sahasranayana was to Sagara.
The PCR (5.134-140) names the parents of Vakrakīrti as Hari and Dharādevī. According to the RPS (p. 15) Sankhika (Rambhaka) was first reborn in Devakuru and then as a celestial being. Vakrakirti is named Vratakīrti and Yaśaskīrti as Jayakīrti. The TSP (II. p. 165) mentions that Rambhaka passed through various good existences and was reborn as Sagara.
26. The Previous Birth of Bhagiratha or the story of a potter:
Following the episode of the burning of the sons of Sagara, Bhagirath requests muni Śrutasāgara to tell him the cause of his and Bhima's escape from death. The monk narrates the story (5. 204-216) illustrating the consequences of torturing the Sangha.
Once a Saigha of the Sramaņas on a pilgrimage to the Sammeta mountain was tortured by all the inhabitants of a village despite the opposition from a potter. In course of time when some villager committed theft, the king burnt the whole village. The potter who was out of the village on that occasion escaped death. That potter was reborn as a rich merchant and all the villagers as the inhabitants of Varāțaka. The merchant then was reborn as a king while the villagers as (māivāhā=mātņvāhakāḥ) worms. Those worms were trampled down to death by an elephant. The king renounced the world and attained heaven. From heaven he was reborn as Bhagiratha while the worms passing through various births became the sons of Sagara.
The PCR (5. 285-315) and the RPS (ch. 3) agree with the PCV. The TSP (II, p. 214) mentions the Virāța country for Varāțaka. Jahnu