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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"To you " Srenika replied candidly and the merchant was beside himself with joy. He took him home and offered all the hospitality with great sincerity and affection. One thing was true that since Srenika arrived in his house the merchant's profits went on increasing. So it is only natural that he should make a proposal of marriage on behalf of his daughter Nandā. In course of time, Srenika was married to her and the young couple lived there in great luxury enjoying all kinds of pleasures. It was not long before Nandā discovered that she was pregnant.
In the meantime, Prasenajit, the king of Rājagrha, felt that his end was near. He had secretly kept himself informed of his son Srenika's whereabouts and now he sent camel riders to fetch him home quickly. The royal messengers told Srenika that the king was eagerly awaiting him, so Srenika bid farewell to his pregnant wife and before he left the house, he wrote out a message that he was going to live in Rājagrha as a cowherd and that if they needed any help from him, they could call on him. So he left for Rājagrha.
In Nanda's womb was growing her foetus which in fact was a great soul that had just arrived on this earth from the world of the gods.Accordingly, she had strange pregnancy longings. On one occasion, she wished to ride a well decorated elephant distributing wealth to people around and guaranteeing them freedom from fear. Her father informed the king and fulfilled her longing. In due course, a son was born to her. He was named Abhaya in keeping with the pregnancy longing of his mother, she wanted to free people from fear. Abhayakumára had a happy childhood and learnt all the scriptures etc in course of time.
Once he asked his mother about his father. She honestly told him of the whole account of her married life and showed him the message that his father had left behind. Abhayakumära interpreted the message that his father had written in the light of his mother's account of her life with him and came to understand that his father was the king in Rājagrha. He suggested to his mother that they should proceed to Rājagrha but only as a part of a merchant's caravan
When they reached the outskirts of the city, Abhayakumāra left