Part 2: Previous incarnations of Ara

In the city Susīmā in the broad province Vatsa on the north bank of the river Sītā in the East Videhas of this very Jambūdvīpa, there was a king Dhanapati, unlimited in wealth of heroism, rich in glory and dharma. Binding, beating, breaking of limbs, punishment, et cetera of no one took place, while he, the essence of command, ruled the earth. Because the people were free from quarrels With each other and were friendly with each other, the whole earth was like a monastic retreat. The dharma taught by the Jina played ardently, like a haṃsa, in the choice pool of his mind filled with the water of compassion. Then disgusted with valueless worldly existence, knowing the (comparative) value of everything, he became a mendicant in the presence of Muni Saṃvara, having undertaken the blocking of karma (saṃvara). Guarding his vows strictly, practicing severe penance, wise, he wandered over the earth, observing many restrictions. A merchant’s son, Jinadāsa, fed the great muni with faith when he broke a four-month fast. Though an enemy of karma, Muni Dhanapati acquired the body-making-karma of a Tīrthakṛt by the sthānas, devotion to the Arhats, et cetera.

In the course of time he died, his mind concentrated in meditation, and became a powerful god in the ninth Graiveyaka.^[1]