Part 3: Vāsupūjya’s parents (king Vasupūjya and queen Jayā)

The king there was named Vasupūjya, a member of the Ikṣvāku-family, like Vāsava in strength, like the sun (vasu) in brilliance. Thundering, as it were, with drums summoning beggars, he favored the earth with money like a cloud favoring it with water. His numerous armies traversed the earth for amusement, but not for conquest, his enemies being defeated just by his brilliance. As the king, who was the essence of authority, was the chastiser of the wicked, the word ‘slave’ was found in the dictionaries, but not among the people. He bore the pure teaching of the Omniscients (the Jinas), like an eternal śrīvatsa, in his heart, devoted to those practicing dharma.

His chief-queen, an object of delight, was named Jayā, victorious over love and beauty, the haṃsī to the pool of her family. She, who was deep and had a slow, winding gait like the Jāhnavī, entered Vasupūjya’s mind which was deep as the Eastern Ocean.^[1]  King Vasupūjya dwelt always in her heart spotless as pure crystal, like the supreme spirit in the heart of one truly devoted. Some time passed in wonderful happiness for them suited in beauty, grace, and virtues, delighting in each other.