Composite Manuscript (Sudhanakumārāvadāna; Lakṣacaitya-vrata-śṛṅga-bherī-kathā)

A composite manuscript contains two texts. The first text is the Sudhanakumārāvadāna. In the colophon, it is mentioned that this is the 32nd story of the Avadāna-ratnamālā, though the story is also found in the Divyāvadāna. The story begins by describing the prosperous state of Uttara Pāñcāla and the poor state of Dakṣiṇa Pāñcāla. Uttara Pāñcāla was ruled by a king named Mahodhana, whose son was Sudhana. The narrative recounts how Sudhana met a kinnara princess named Manoharā and married her. As the story progresses, Sudhana embarks on a military expedition, instructing his mother to take care of his wife during his absence. Meanwhile, King Mahodhana has an unpleasant dream and consults his high priest. The priest suggests that the king should sacrifice a kinnara to avert the danger foretold by the dream. When the king attempts to sacrifice Manoharā, Sudhana's mother helps her escape to her father’s kingdom. Upon returning from the expedition and finding his wife gone, Sudhana is devastated and begins a journey to find her. The story concludes with their reunion and return to their kingdom. The second text is part of the Citraviṃśatyavadāna. It is also known as the Lakṣacaityaśṛṅgabherīkathā or Śṛṅgabherīkathā. This version expands upon the earlier Śṛṅgabherī story. The tale is narrated by Upagupta to King Aśoka to explain the significance of caitya (reliquary monument) rites. Upagupta tells the story of a king named Siṃhaketu and his queen Sulakṣaṇā. Due to his past deeds, the king is reborn as a buffalo, while the queen is reborn into a Brāhmaṇa family. She realizes that her former husband has been reborn as a buffalo and prays to the Lord for his deliverance. One day, the buffalo is killed by a wild beast. Upon finding the buffalo’s bones and horns, the queen builds a caitya on that site. After 21 days, a miraculous event occurs: a crystal caitya descends onto the sand caitya, the buffalo’s horn turns into gold, and a handsome man named Dharmaśila appears and asks for her hand in marriage. Later, he is known as Bhadraśriṅgī, and his wife becomes known as Rūpavatī.