Some Aspects of Indian Culture

SR No.: 001132
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A S Gopani, Nagin J Shah, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 211
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Discourse
File Size: 15 MB

Page 110

Jambu-A historical person..
10)
After some time Sudharma in course of his peregrinations came to Campā with his retinue of monks and fixed up his headquarters in the temple, Purnabhadra. Kuņika came to pay his obeissance and there seeing the penance practised by Jambu as also his charitable disposition, munificence and character, he asked for more information about him. Thereupon, Sudharma wished him to listen attentively to a story which was told to his father, Sreņik, in the past by Mahavira and which is now being narrated presently to him by him. With these prefatory remarks, Sudharma described into details the narrative of Prasannacandra to Kuņika, Mahāvira on being further requested continued. Sreņika disclosed that Vidyunmali who had come to pay regards to him will be born as a human being on this earth and related a story justifying Vidyunamāli's achievement of such an extradordinary brilliance. That story I am repeating to you, oh Kuņika! which you hear - said Sudharma and he began.
"In this very country, in a village called Sugrāma, there dwelt a chieftain named Aryava who had a wife named Revati, They had two sons, Bhavadatta and Bhavadeva. The elder, Bhavadatta, accepted monkhood even when he was young. After some time, a community of monks, during their wanderings, came over to the very village. The monk, Bhavadatta, seeking his Guru's permission, came to Bhavadeva with a view to Enlightening him. Bhavadeva was a married man at that time and in accordanc with the family traditions and customs he was, at that time, engaged in decorating Nāgila, his wife. Learning that his brother had come, he came out leaving Nāgilā half decorated. Bhavadatta, having finished his meal there at his brother's, left tbe home, giving back the vessel full of ghee to his brother, Bhavadeva. Bhavadeva accompanied Bhavadatta who had come to him to specially enlighten him. After a long time, Bhavadatta went to heaven having embraced death with a calm and cool mind.
Bhavadeva who had become a monk observed celibacy but with the thoughts of his wife. Once when the community of monks came to his own former village, he went in the direction of his house without seeking the Guru's permission and sat to take rest in the temple outside. At that time, his former wife, Nagilā, emaciated due to observance of vows etc. came to offer worship to gods in the very temple accompanied with one Brahmin lady. Bhavadeva could not recognize her and be asked her only about his parents and wife to see whom he expressed his desire. Nāgila at once recognized him and acquainted him about her. She brought him round citing an example of a Brahmin's son who had to take birth as a he-buffalo because of his craving for carnal desires. Just when Nagilā was enlightening him, a son of the Brahmin woman who had accompanied her came to the mother and asked for a vessel in which he wanted to vomit the rice-pudding which he had eaten because he had got an invitation for dinner from some other place, his desire being to store the vomitted rice-pudding for the next day. It was explained to the boy that it was a bad proposal and he will not be allowed to implement it. Even Bhavadeda joined her in dissuading the boy whereupon Nagila retorted that he also