Jain Legend Vol 1

SR No.: 007594
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 367
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

Page 231

the herdsman said he did this on account of the Brahmin, an angry Brahmadatta got the Brahmin and his family killed. When his anger did not subside even then, he instructed the minister that the eyes of all the Brahmins in the city be removed and brought to him on a platter. Instead of eyes the minister placed before the blind Brahmadatta something similar to the eyes, a cluster of mucus-like seedless fruits of the tree Cordia myxa. Thinking those to be Brahmin eyes, Brahmadatta would touch them again and again and feel extreme happiness. He used to keep the platter with him day and night and touching them would feel intense pleasure. This way Brahmadatta spent his last 16 years in persistently intense distress and angry thoughts and after completing 700 years of his life, thinking constantly of his queen Kurumat , died and reached the seventh hell.
A broken link in ancient history
A description of cakravart Brahmadatta almost similar to that found in Jain gamas and texts is found in Veda Vy sa's Mah bh rata and Harivam apur a as well. Some episodes in Brahmadatta's life which are similar to both the traditions are given here for comparative evaluation:
Brahmadatta was a resident of K mpilya city in the P mc la republic.
Brahmadatta's soul in a past life, seeing a king's wealth, had resolved that “if I have done good deeds, observed rules and penance may I be such a king as a result of that.
That Brahmadatta got the knowledge of his past life is similar to both traditions barring a few differences in the cause.
The description of Brahmadatta's past lives is similar in both traditions.
That Brahmadatta got married to a Brahmin woman, even this is similar in both traditions.
There is reference to Brahmadatta understanding the language of animals and birds in both the traditions.
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