Part 1: King Jitaśatru and Queen Vijayā

Now, there is a city named Vinītā, the crest-jewel of the earth, in Bharata in the continent Jambūdvīpa. After the time of the emancipation of Lord Ṛṣabha Svāmin, Lord of the Three Worlds, the first Tīrthaṅkara, when numberless kings of the Ikṣvāku-family had attained emancipation and Sarvārthasiddha^[1] because of their pure nature, in this city Jitaśatru was king, like a broad umbrella of the Ikṣvāku-family warding off heat (pain) from all.

His virtues, bravery, etc., gained a lord in his very brilliant glory, like the constellations having a lord in the moon. He was a śrīvallī-pavilion,^[2] whose center could not be reached like the ocean, refreshing to the eyes like the moon, a house of adamant to those wishing protection. Dwelling in the hearts of all gods and men he, though one, became multiplied like the moon in water. He was over the whole world, like the midday sun, because of the circuits of the quarters traversed with unendurable brilliance. While he was ruling the earth, kings constantly bore his command on their heads like diadems. He took choice treasures from the earth and distributed them for the benefit of all the people, like a cloud giving rain. He thought constantly in accord with dharma, he spoke in accord with dharma, he acted in accord with dharma. Everything on his part was based on dharma.

The King had a younger brother, who was crown prince, named Sumitravijaya, whose strength was unequaled. King Jitaśatru had a wife, Śrīmatī Vijayā Devī, who was like a goddess come to earth. She had the appearance of being made of pieces of blooming lotuses from the looks of her hands, feet, eyes, and face. She was the ornament of the earth, and good behavior was her ornament. Her collection of other ornaments was merely for formality. To judge from her possession of the whole collection of arts and her uniting of every beauty, the goddess Sarasvatī or Kamalā had descended (to earth) for a dwelling. The King was the first among men; she was the crest-jewel of women. Their union was like that of the ocean and Gaṅgā.

Now, when King Vimala’s soul fell from (the palace) Vijaya, it became a jewel of a son, possessing three kinds of knowledge, in Queen Vijayā’s womb like a jewel-mine, on the thirteenth day of the bright half of Rādha, the moon being in conjunction with the constellation Rohiṇī. From the power of the Master who had entered the womb, happiness for hell-inhabitants even arose for a moment. In the pure fourth watch of the same night Queen Vijayā saw fourteen great dreams.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The central palace in Anuttara.

[2]:

This example of a ‘śrīvallīmaṇḍapa’ would indicate that śrīvallī refers to the Acacia Concinna rather than the jasmine (MW s.v.). The Acacias are prickly climbing shrubs used in hedges to protect fields (Watt, p. 2). The idea of inaccessibility because of its thorns suits very well here and the comparison with the moon is satisfactory, as the Acacias are also beautiful. Probably also in 1. 6. 573 (I, p. 366) it is used with the idea of inaccessibility. Note 403 in I should be revised accordingly.