Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words

This page describes Slaying of Sagara’s sons which is the eleventh part of chapter V of the English translation of the Ajitanatha-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Ajitanatha in jainism is the second Tirthankara (Jina) and one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Part 11: Slaying of Sagara’s sons

Saying this very vehemently, terrifying with much arrogance, cruel with brilliance like the fire at the end of the world that has burned up inopportunely, like the submarine-fire that has come out of the ocean, intending to burn up the world, blazing like the fire of the thunderbolt, he left Rasātala and came there quickly with the Nāgakumāras. When the Lord of the Poison-eyed saw them, he gave them a look immediately, and they became a heap of ashes, like a bunch of straw. A loud cry of “Hā! Hā!” arose, filling the space between heaven and earth. The destruction even of the guilty may be an occasion for sympathy among the people. After he had killed the sixty thousand sons of Sagara, the Nāga-king and his Nāgas went to Rasātala like the sun at the end of the day.

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