Eighth incarnation as Suvamabahu

Now, in this Jambudvipa in the East Videhas there is a broad city, Puranapura, resembling a city of the gods.
Kulisabahu, resembling Indra (Kulisabhrt), was king there, his command borne like a wreath by hundreds of kings. His chief-queen was Sudarsanas, fair in form, the recipient of extreme affection. He experienced pleasures of the senses, sporting with her like the earth embodied, without doing injury to the other objects of existence.
His life completed, in course of time the god Vajranabha fell from Graiveyaka and descended into her womb. At dawn, lying on her couch, Queen Sudarsana saw the fourteen great dreams indicating the birth of a cakrabhrt. Delighted by the dreams as explained by her husband, she passed the time. At the right time she bore a son, like the east bearing the sun.
After holding the birth-festival, the king gave him the name, Suvamabahu, with a great festival again. Being passed from lap to lap by nurses and kings, he crossed childhood slowly, like a traveler a river. He learned all the arts easily from the impression on his mind from previous births and he reached fresh youth, the abode of Love. Suvamabahu was without a counterpart in the world in beauty, invincible in courage, and gentle with a wealth of good-breeding. The king, depressed by existence, knew that his son was competent and, after importuning him, installed him on the throne, but became a mendicant himself. With his command unbroken on earth he (Suvamabahu), like Indra in Saudharma, continued to enjoy pleasures, immersed in the nectar of happiness.
One day he went out for sport, attended by thousands of kings, mounted on a new horse that was like an eighth horse of the Sun’s horses.231 Wishing to test the horse’s speed, the king struck him with a whip and he ran away very fast like a deer, a mount of Marut.232 The more the king pulled on the bridle, the faster he ran because of inverted training. Like Garuda on foot, like the wind embodied, the horse outdistanced the soldiers in a moment. Whether touching the earth or going through the air, the horse could not be seen because of his speed. It was conjectured, “The king has gone with him, certainly, mounted on him.”
In a moment the king reached a forest very far away, full of various trees, crowded with all kinds of animals. The king saw a pool spotless as his own heart and the horse, thirsty, panting hard, stopped at the sight of it. Then the king took off the saddle, bathed and watered the horse; and the king himself bathed and drank. Then after coming out (of the pool) and resting a moment on its bank, the king started out and saw ahead a charming ascetics grove. The king was delighted, seeing it with trees whose water-basins were being filled by young ascetics holding young deer on their hips.
As the king was entering it, his right eye twitched, indicating new happiness to him expert in proper procedure. As he went forward, delighted, the king saw on the right a girl-ascetic with a girl-friend sprinkling the trees with pitchers of water. He thought, “Indeed, there is no such beauty of the Apsarases nor of the Naga women, nor of mortal women. She is superior to the three worlds.” While the king, hidden in the trees, was considering her, she entered a bower of madhavi233 with her friend. After loosening the firmly-fastened bark-garment, the maiden began to sprinkle the bakulaB, her mouth giving joy to the bakula.234 Again the king reflected: “On the one hand, the beauty of her, lotus-eyed; on the other hand, this work suitable for an ordinary woman. She is not an ascetic-maiden, since my mind is attached to her. Surely she is some princess who has come here from some place.”
Just then a bee flew into her face with the idea that it was a lotus, causing terror to her shaking two fingers. When the bee did not leave her, then she said to her friend, “Save me from this Raksasa of a bee. Save me! “The friend said: “Who is able to save you except Suvamabahu? Follow the king alone, if your object is protection.”
“Who, pray, threatens you, when the son of Vajrabahu235 is protecting the earth?” With these words the king, knowing that it was a suitable time, appeared before them. Seeing him suddenly, they were alarmed and did not do or say anything suitable. Knowing they were frightened, the king said to them; again, “Does someone interfere with your unhindered penance here, fair lady?”
Regaining composure, the friend said: “While Vajrabahu’s son is king, who is able to make an obstacle to penance of ascetics here? This girl was only stung on the face by a bee with the idea that it was a lotus. The timid-eyed maiden said, ‘save! Save!’ “The king sat down on a seat which she offered at the foot of a tree and was questioned by her with a pure mind in a voice like nectar.
“You are shown to be someone uncommon by your form which is beyond criticism. Then say who you are a god or a Vidyadhara?” The king himself was unable to name himself and said: “I am the attendant of King Kanakabahu. At his order I have come here to the hermitage to restrain those causing obstacles.* The king’s effort in this is great.”
The king said to the friend who was thinking, “He is the king himself,” “Why is the girl tormented by that work?”

Sighing, she said: “She is the daughter, Padma, borne by Ratnavali, of the Khecara-king, lord of Ratnapura. Her father died as soon as she was born and his sons, seeking his kingdom, fought with each other and destruction of the kingdom, took place. Ratnavali took this girl and came to the house in the hermitage of her brother, Abbot Galava. One day a sadhu who had divine knowledge came here and Galava asked him, “Who will be Padma’s husband?” The great muni replied, “The son of Cakrabhrt Vajrabahu, come hither, carried away by his horse, will marry the girl.”
The king reflected: “This sudden running away of the horse with me is surely a design of the Creator for union with her.” He said: “Lady, tell me where the abbot is now. At the sight of him now may I have a shoot of joy.”The friend replied: “He has gone now to follow the muni who has started to wander elsewhere. After he has paid homage to him, he will return.” Then an old sadhvi said: “Oh, Nanda,236 bring Padma. It is time for the abbot’s return.” The king, by whom the arrival of soldiers was known from the noise of the horses hooves, said, “You go. I shall keep the army from the hermitage.” Then Padma was led away from the place by Nanda with difficulty, as she was looking at King Suvamabahu, her head turned. The abbot and Ratnavali came at that time and the friend told the story of Suvamabahu excitedly.
Galava said: “The muni’s knowledge is exceedingly trust-worthy. The noble Jain sages do not speak anything false. He, the chief of the caste and order, must be honored with hospitality. And he is Padma’s future husband. We will go with Padma to him.” Then the abbot, accompanied by Ratnavali, Padma, and Nanda, went to the king’s presence and was honored by the king who had risen.
The king said to Galava: “Eager to see you today, I have wished to come. But why have you yourself come?”
Galava said: “Anyone else who has come to the hermitage must be honored with hospitality, but specially you, our protector. An omniscient predicted that Padma here, my sister’s daughter, would be your wife. You have come because of her merit. So, marry her now.”