Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This page describes Tricked by a sorcerer which is the eighteenth part of chapter II of the English translation of the Neminatha-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Neminatha in jainism is the twenty-second Tirthankara (Jina) and one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.
Part 18: Tricked by a sorcerer
One day while amusing himself with her he went to a garden and he saw there a sorcerer, Indraśarman. When he had seen his magic art performing miracles, Śauri asked for it. He said: “Take this magic art which deludes the mind. This magic art, undertaken in the evening, is successful; but at sunrise it causes many calamities. Procure some friend.”
“A foreigner, I have no friend.”
“Brother, I am the friend of you, a brother, and (so is) my wife, Vanamālikā.”
Being told this, Śauri took the magic charm, whispering it properly, and was taken away by the magician Indraśarman in a litter. Reflecting on the calamity, Śauri whispered the magic charm at dawn and, having recognized the trick, got out of the litter. Yādava outstripped índraśarman and the others running after him and at the end of the day reached a hamlet, Tṛṇaśoṣaka.