Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 140

85
Anangasenā being the most prominent of them.
King Drupada sent similar parties of messengers with similar instructions to the city of Hastinapura where king Pandu with his sons known as the five Pandavas, his brother's son Duryodhana with his ninety nine brothers, Bhisma the son of Gangā, Vidura, Drona, Jayadratha, Sakuni, Krpa and As'vatthāman lived. Another set of messengers was despatched to the city of Campā to extend the invitation to Karna the king of Anga. Šalya the king of Nandis. The fourth group of messengers went to suktimati to invite Sisupala and his five hundred brothers. The fifth went to the city of Hastisi rsa. The sixth to Mathură. The seventh tc Rājagrha, the eighth to Kaundinya, the ninth to Virāta to inform Kicaka and the tenth to the remaining groups of cities, towns and villages. All the invitees amongst whom Väsudeva was prominent had their bath, put on their armour rode their excellent elephants and as the proceeded to their destination, they were attended on by a vast multitude of their soldiers and followers.
In the meantime, king Drupada got ready a huge pandal propped up on hundreds of poles just outside his city near the river Gangā. The pandal was gracefully decorated with several statuettes. He also erected several pavilions (or sāmiānäs) for the many thousand kings and princes that would be attending the svayamvara. He received each one of the kings personally and extended all honours to them and led them to their tents. Drupada sent them plenty of food, wines, liqours, meats etc. and also flowers, garments, scents, garlands and ornaments. They were all entertained with musical concerts. King Drupada announced that the next afternoon the svayamvara would take place and requested all his guests to be present in the svayamvara pandal.
The svayamvara pandal was properly cleaned and sprinkled with perfumed water. It was decorated with garlands of five coloured flowers and a special kind of sandalwood, the black agaru was kept burning to spread its own fragrance to which was also added the excellent perfumes of Kundurukka and Turuska incense. Several couches and sofas were arranged in rows, one over the other, to accommodate thousands of princes. But some of the seats