At the dawn of this world-age, when human beings had forgotten the way of the soul, a prince was born who would become the first Jina — a conqueror of the inner enemies of greed, hatred, and delusion. The Adipurana, composed in Sanskrit by the ninth-century poet-monk Jinasena, is the great classic of the Jain tradition: the story of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara, who established the arts of civilization, renounced his kingdom, and showed the path to liberation. It is also the story of his sons — Bharata, the first universal emperor, and Bahubali, who conquered not the world but himself. This new edition renders Jinasena's majestic verse into clear, inviting modern English while remaining faithful to the original's meaning and spirit. Readers will encounter the Jain vision of the universe, the workings of karma, and the timeless ideal of the soul that overcomes all obstacles. Part of The World Scriptures Library.