Indian Antiquary Vol 32

SR No.: 032524
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 550
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 121

MARCH, 1908.)
THE LEGEND OF KUNJARAKARNA.
115
Bhatara-Vairobana, with the words : " Aho, namo Bhatdra / Namah Sivdya." "Boundless is the mercy of the Lord toward me, in that he commanded me to go to Yama's kingdom to.Bee what is prepared for all evil-doers. Now, only, do I understand what was his aim."
So spako Kunjarakarna. Then he praised the Lord and went away to the abode of BhataraYamadhipati. Hey! Presto! Gone! He came to the abode of Yamadhipati. Because it was not unknown to Yama who Kunjarakarna was, he welcomed him :-"Oh, how fortunate I am that you have come ! Well, my dear younger brother, what is the cause of your coming here? It is, indeed, seldom that you come ; what is your object, and your desire ?"
"Oh, my elder brother, YamAdhipatil my object in coming here is the result of a command from His Holiness Bhatara-Vairochana, and I seek to be enlightened by you, as I am in doubt how I shall be born as man, or not as man; as divinity, or not as divinity, I know not what
recompense I have to expect at my rebirth. So I asked for enlightenment, and the Lord · Vairohans said to me:-. It is excellent on your part to ask for enlightenment concerning the
* Saored Law. Therefore I will teach you, so that you may learn to know the Sacred Law fully * and that your vision may be made clear. But first go to Yama's kingdom, where you will see all those who undergo the five states of mortal pain. When you have returned from Yama's kingdom, I will instruct you in the Law.' - So spake the Lord Vairoohana to me. Have pity upon me, O elder brother Yamadhipati. Explain to me the meaning of it. And then I should like to ask you still another thing, O elder brother Yamadhipati. What road is that which one sees from here? I have great fear of it in my heart because it is closed by fire; towards the south thereof are two mountains of iron, which continually move and strike against each other. There are the evil-doers squeezed flat by the mountains of iron; their skulls are broken so that their brains fall out; their tongues hang out of their moaths; their eye-balls start out. They are not dead, and yet not living, but are perpetually tortured. What is it that canses such things? Is it the universal ordinance of God ? . Tell me that, О elder brother Yamadhipati."
"Just so, Kunjarakarna. I will instruct you, dear brother; listen well! The road where you see the glow of fire leads to Adhobhamipattans; and what you see protruding from the centre of it is the sword-tree jungle ; and the black mass you see rising at the southern boundary is the so-called Parvatasangheta, mountains of iron, which strike against each other. Thither the evil-doers are pursued by my servants, as panishment for their former Dushkpiti, the evil they have done upon the earth. This adheres to the soul and demands fruition. Such is the Karma. The good and the evil-deeds shall both receive a proportionate reward, being pleasure or pain, which one experiences in the body. Into Bhamipattans men are consigned by their evil deeds. How great, then, should be the number of evil-doers whom you saw there anon? A thousand ? Two thousand ? Incalculable is their number, Bhamipattana is full of them. How broad is the way which you followed just now? A fathom and a koh wide. This also is crammed with evil-doers. But yonder way, which is but thres spans broad and overgrown with grass and weeds, how comes it so? Because those who do good deeds are so few in number. All men upon the earth do wrong, struggling for precedence. Therefore, Kunjarakarna, do not fail zealously to practise selfmortification."
#Ah, elder brother Yamadhipati! Yes, so it is. The evil deede in their former life are the cause of it. What is really the reason that they wish to live again ? For sure they have died formerly on the earth; and yet the dead, as many as have come to Yama's kingdom, return to the flesh."
"Ab, dear brother Kunjarakarpa, old man ! You are very ignorant, brother! That comes about in the following way; listen carefully. You must know then there are five {tmans in the body, namely, Atman, Purátman, Nirdtman, Antarátman, Chétandtman. That is the number of souls in the body. Consciousness (Chetana) is that which rouses a desire to live and unites those other four