Sruta Sarita

SR No.: 001940
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 310
Language: English, Prakrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Articles
File Size: 18 MB

Page 134

THE STORY OF BHARATA AND BAHUBALI
125
Cāmundaraya (983 A. D.) and it seems that thereafter many such idols were erected.
The story of Bharata and Bāhubalī in Sanskrit is found that in Ravisena's Padmacarita but its main source is the Prakrit Padhamānuyoga? from which it is adapted. Prakrit works to adapt the story of Rsabha etc. are Jambūdvīpaprajñapti, Vasudevahindi, Avaśyaka Niryukti, Višeşāvasyaka-bhāsya, Avasyakacūrņi, Cauppannamahāpurisa cariya of Sīlānka etc.--and Hemacandra's Trişastiśalākāpurusasarita in Sanskrit and many such other works in Prakrit and Sanskrit. The commentaries on Āvāsyaka-Niryukti by Haribhadra and Malayagiri though in Sanskrit narrates this story in Prakrit showing thereby that its source is Prakrit and not Sanskrit. II. Vasudevahiņdī (pp. 157-188) (VH)
It will be better to know the whole story first, so that it will be easy to understand its development. And as the version of the story found in Āvasyakaniryukti is in catch words, it will be better if we give the version from Vasudevahindi which is generally followed by others.
CIS.
The form of the story of Bāhubali which is found in Vasudevahindi may be summarized thus :
Rsabha was the son of twin Nābhi the 7th Kulakara and Marudevī (pp. 158, 183). Rsabha and Sumangalā were twins and behaved like husband and wife. Sumangalā gave birth to twin Bharata and Brāhmī, a son and a daughter, and she also gave birth to 49 other twins of sons, i.e. 98 sons (p. 162). Further, Rsabha married to Sunandā who gave birth to Bāhubalī and Sundarī (p. 162). So Rsabha had 100 sons, and two daughters. Rsabha at the request of the people became the sovereign king and ruled the Kosala Janapada from its capital city Vinītā (p. 162). Rsabha taught script to Brāhmi with his right hand and taught mathematics to Sundarī through his left hand, Bharata was taught Rūpa while Bāhubali was taught painting (cittakamma) and palmistry (lakkhanam). It was for the first time that Rsabha taught arts and crafts to the people at large (p. 163). At the time of his renunciation Rsabha distributed his kingdom amongst Bharata and his other sons. Kaccha and Mahākaccha along with other 4000 kings also renounced the world with Rsabha. (p. 163).
When Rsabha was roaming as an ascetic two princes namely Nami and Vinami, who were absent when Rsabha distributed his kingdom at the time of his renunciation, associated and helped him in various manner. Dharana Nagarāya, when he came to know that their object was to achieve some portion of the land,