Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This page describes Birth of Bharata and Shatrughna which is the tenth part of chapter IV of the English translation of the Jain Ramayana, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. This Jain Ramayana contains the biographies of Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Naminatha, Harishena-cakravartin and Jaya-cakravartin: all included in the list of 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.
Part 10: Birth of Bharata and Śatrughna
One day, gathering resolution from the power of the princes, the king went to Ayodhyā, the capital of the Ikṣvākus. Daśaratha ruled the earth, shining with great brilliance at the passing of evil fate like the sun at the passing of clouds.
There one day Kaikeyī bore a son indicated by an auspicious dream, the ornament of Bharata, named Bharata. Suprabhā also bore a son, a joy to the family, named Śatrughna, possessing power of arm to kill enemies. Bharata and Śatrughna, inseparable day and night from affection, looked like another Baladeva and Vāsudeva. King Daśaratha looked with his four sons like Mt. Meru with its mountains in the shape of elephants’ tusks. [1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The 4 ranges named Vakṣāra, have the shape of elephant-tusks. K. p. 233.