Paumacariya 23

English (machine translation) 23

Language: English

23.1

Now one day, King Dasaratha was sitting
on a comfortable seat in the middle of the assembly hall, when just then Nārada arrived.

23.2

The king quickly arose, and when [Nārada] was comfortably seated upon a seat,
he asked: "O venerable one! Whence have you wandered?"

23.3

Having bestowed a blessing, Nārada then said:
"For the purpose of venerating the Jina temples, I went to Pūrvavideha.

23.4

Then in Puṇḍarīkiṇī, O illustrious one, the renunciation
of the supreme Jina Sīmandhara, crowded with gods and asuras, was seen by me there.

23.5

Having bowed to the blessed Sīmaṃdhara and to the caityas there, I then
went to Mount Mandara; being delighted, I bowed down at the Jina temples.

23.6

Having circumambulated that lord of excellent mountains whose peak is frequented by hosts of gods,
I quickly returned, venerating the Jina shrines.

23.7

Then Nārada said: "O lord of Sākēta! Listen to my words,
and dismiss the people so that I may disclose the secret."

23.8

When the people were dismissed, Nārada then said to the king:
"Solely for the sake of veneration, I went to the peak of Trikūṭa.

23.9

While standing there, having bowed to the temple of the Jina Śānti,
by the power of your merit, this speech was overheard by me.

23.10

An astrologer proclaimed according to the marine ritual [that],
'In battle, Dasaratha's son will kill Rāvaṇa; of this there is no doubt.'

23.11

Hearing that it would be for the sake of Janaka's daughter, Bibhīṣaṇa spoke thus:
'I shall kill that Dasaratha, so long as no son is born to him.'

23.12

I too was addressed by Bibhīṣaṇa: 'Do you know where that Dasaratha is?
And tell clearly where Janaka is, O venerable one! Do not make any delay.'

23.13

Bibhīṣaṇa was told by me: 'I have not heard of their whereabouts.'
Having given this reply, I have come here to your presence.

23.14

Thus it has been related to you out of affection for you, a possessor of right view;
therefore, devise a means before Bibhīṣaṇa comes."

23.15

Having given this counsel, Nārada went with great haste to Mithilā,
and related entirely to Janaka the news that was the cause of death.

23.16

Terrified by the great fear of death, King Dasaratha, having entrusted
the treasury and the realm to his ministers, departed from there in disguise.

23.17

Meanwhile, the ministers quickly had a delightful plaster effigy of Dasaratha
fashioned in the seven-storied palace pavilion.

23.18

This very same thing was arranged for Janaka as well by his ministers;
the two fled and wandered over the earth, wearing disguised forms.

23.19

Meanwhile, men dispatched by Bibhīṣaṇa to the city of Sākēta
roamed about searching, fixing their eyes upon the king.

23.20

As they delayed, unable to enter the royal palace,
Bibhīṣaṇa himself swiftly arrived at the city of Sākēta.

23.21

Quickly entering the excellent palace by Bibhīṣaṇa's command,
Taḍidvilasita severed the head of the artificial king.

23.22

Taking the head that was dripping with lac-resin juice,
Taḍidvilasita himself saw it at night, and again showed it to his master.

23.23

Hearing the lamentation in the inner apartments, dropping the head upon the ground,
Bibhīṣaṇa, moving with a speed born of mind and wind, set out for Laṅkā.

23.24

The retinue too, having raised a lament, performed the obsequies that were to be done;
... of sorrowful mind, remained gazing at the directions.

23.25

Meanwhile, Bibhīṣaṇa, his mind rejoicing with bliss,
eagerly performed honors, gifts, and worship toward the gurus.

Whatever evil or good deed is produced in another life ripens for men just so; it is never false.
Knowing this, and especially the dwelling in terrible saṁsāra, make your thoughts pure in the path of liberation taught by the Jinas.

23.27

Thus ends the twenty-third uddesa in the Paümacariya, titled 'The Performance of Bibhīṣaṇa's Words'.

Linked texts (1)

Paümacariya — Vimalasūri, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit