Jain monk and poet, Jina-ratna tells the stories of a group of souls as they pass through a series of embodiments on their way to final liberation from the continual cycle of death and
rebirth.
The Epitome of Queen Lilavati abounds in memorable incidents and characters, such as Dhana, the rich merchant who attempts to justify cheating in trade; Padma-ratha, who, while invisible,
attempts to seduce the ladies of the royal household; and Vasundhara, the bogus holy man who is caught in a compromising position with a female dog.
The purpose of these stories, which are related to Queen Lilavati and her husband, King Simha, by the teacher-monk Samara-sena, is to promote the ethic of Jainism, which holds that strict
adherence to a non-violent way of life is the key to liberation from the troubles of the world. In the end, Queen Lilavati, King Simha and the other leading characters attain perfect knowledge
and liberation.
