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

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and was crowned the heir-apparent. Once a party of monks arrived there and the Pandavas who were greatly impressed by their teachings, expressed their desire to take orders and when they obtained the permission of Draupadi and of Pandusena whom they would make the king, they shaved their heads and entered the order with a wish to renounce the world. Draupadi also expressed a similar desire and entered the order. The King Pandusena made great preparation for the ceremony of renunciation. Accordingly, the Pāndavas settled down as monks to study the fourteen Purvas to lead the life of ascetics observing various fasts. Draupadi too under the directions of the nun Suvratā studied Eleven Angas, observed many fasts and lived for many years.
The whole group of monks left Pandumathurā and in the course of their travelling came to the country of Saurastra where the venerable Aristanemi was reported to be camping. Yudhisthira and his brothers had a keen desire to meet him and so asked the permission of the senior monk of their camp and proceeded, on getting it, to the park Sahasrāmravana outside the city of Hastakalpa. There the Pandavas came to learn the terrible news that Aristanemi had breathed his last on the peak of the Girnar mountain. He was observing a month's fast during which he had refrained even from taking water. The five Pandava brothers also renounced food and water and prepared themselves for the final rites. They climbed the Satruñjaya mountain and there they studied the Fourteen Purvas as well as Sāmāyika etc. for many years, emaciated themselves with various fasts. They also took to nudity and acquired the kevala knowledge. This is how they attained salvation. Draupadi too went through similar penances, fasts and mortifications and died at the proper hour. She was re-born in the Brahmaloka where she lived for ten sägaropamas which is almost the maximum period granted.