________________
Mahāvīra knew by his Kévala Jnāna that there will be no one to take a vow, still, he gave the predching for the purpose of preserving the customary usage. The fruitlessness of the first preaching of śramana Bhagavão Mabāvira is thus strange event.
5. FIFTH STRANGE EVENT.
5. Kanhassa Avarakankā uge wat in Krişņa Vasudéva's going to Aparakankā is the fifth strange event. Śrî Krişna, the ninth Vāsudeva--went to Aparakankā 397** for the sake of Draupadi tugt. It happened thus :-One day, Sage Nārada
Tea paid a visit to Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. Draupadi did not respect him by getting up and going towards him to receive him, as he was uncousecrated. Nārada therefore became angry and thought to put Draupadi into trouble for thus Insulting him. Närada, with this object, went to the town of Aparakaikā if the Bharata-kssetra of Dhātaki Khaņda and gave an exaggerated account of the beauty of Draupadî before Padmottara qatar-the King of Aparašankā-who was very passionately fond of women. King Padmottara became enamoured of Dranpadi. She was forcibly brought away with the help of a god a friend of his-and was kept in his barem. There, the most chaste and virtuous Draupadi, preserved her morality. Kunti at--the motber of the Pārdarās,-gave the information of Draupadî having been forcibly taken away by Padmottara, to Krişņa Therupon, Krişna made inquiries about her at a uumber of places but he could not trace her out. In the mean time, Krişna received the information about Draupadî from Närada himself Krisna Vasudeva adored and wors hipped Susthita-deva prerada, The Lord of the Lavaņa Ocean gerup The appended god gave him a way through the ocean and the chariots of Krişna and the Pāņdarás went across it. Krisna then went to Aparakankā assumed the form of Nrisimba me, and defeated King Padmottara. Padmottara was kept alive by a good word from Draupadi.
While returning with Draupadi, Krisna Vāsudéra sounded
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org