Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 2 Vibhag 2

SR No.: 008003
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker
Publisher: Parimal Publication
Publication Year: 1989
Total Pages: 802
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English, Biography, History, & Religion
File Size: 20 MB

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Klog Śrópka owing to the wicked nature of her longing during pregnancy, she secretly made a number of attempts for the removal of the foetus but she was unsuccessful. She was daily being tormented by the idea of the wickedness of her longing and of the impossibility of the fulfilment of her desires She became pale and dejected King Śréņika was very often trying to know the reason of her anxiety but she did not give him any satisfactory reply. Under undue pressure, she told him the real state of facts. The king consulted Abhaya Kumāra. Abhaya Kuināra had some rabbit's flesh placed on the king's belly, and it was tightly covered with a piece of leather. Sitting alone with the king, Céllană -dévi removed pieces of meat placed over the king's belly and tried to fulfil her longing. The king, in the mean time, was raising cries of agony. The queen became full of sorrow about her wicked act, and under the idea that she killed her own husband, she fainted. When she was brought to her senses, the king showed her, his un-injured body; she was consoled.
With completion of nine months of pregnancy, Cellapa-devi gave birth to a handsome boy, Knowing him to become an enemy of his own father, the child was thrown away far into Afokavana (a forest of Asoka trees). When King Śreņika came to know of this episode, he had the child brought back to the palace; under the doubtful notion that if the eldest son is deserted like this, other children will not live long.
Since, the boy was brought back from Asoka-vana, he was named Asoka Candra. When he was lying unprotected in the forest, a hen had bitten off a part of one of his fingers. The finger suppurated and on account of the pain, the child was crying constantly. King Śrèņika out of love for his child, was keeping the swollen finger in his own mouth. By doing so the pain became less and the boy did not cry. Within a few days the wound healed up but the finger remaired a stump and 0, when he grew up, he was playfully called Kūņika (with a paralysed finger) by his playmates.
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