Jain Journal 1971 10

SR No.: 520024
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1971
Total Pages: 45
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

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sary as many soldiers despatched for fighting sought initiation as monks to escape duty on the battle-field. The Buddha gave his assent to this also.12
JAIN JOURNAL
Once Bimbisara called the representatives of eighty thousand villages which were ruled by him. He taught them things political, social and economic. Then he said: "Whatever I have taught is all mundane. For religious knowledge, you should seek refuge in the Buddha." Thereafter all of them went to Grdhhakuta to hear the Lord and became his followers.13
Bimbisara asked his personal physician, the celebrated Jivaka, to look after the health of the Lord and his followers. Description of his having built monastaries is also available.
When the Licchavis sent Mahali, who was a member of Bimbisara's retenue, to beg the Buddha to visit Vaisali, Bimbisara himself did not press the Buddha to accept the invitation but when the Buddha agreed to come, he repaired the whole road from Rajagrha to the Ganges-a distance of five leagues for the Buddha to walk and erected rest houses at the end of each league and spread flowers of five different colours knee deep along the whole way. The parasols were provided for the Buddha and one for each monk. The king himself accompanied the Buddha in order to look after him offering him flowers and perfume throughout the journey which lasted for five days. Arriving on the bank of the river he caused two boats to be fastened together and decorated with flowers and jewels. When the Buddha departed, he followed the boats in the Ganges as far as he could go and then returned. He stayed on the bank awaiting the Buddha's return and escorted him back to Rajagrha with similar pomp and ceremony. 14
In the Lalitavistara, it has been mentioned that the Buddha and his monks were exempted from ferry charges.
The commentary of the Dhātubibhanga Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya states that once some merchants of Taksasila came to Bimbisara's court. They praised their king Pukkasati and depicted him to be of the same age and virtuous as Bimbisara. Thus a friendly relation was established between the two kings and messages were exchanged. Pukkusati sent five costly multi-coloured shawls to Bimbisara and in
12 Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavaggo, Mahakhandhaka, p. 199.
13 Ibid., Cullavagga, Khuddakavasthu Skandhaka, p. 458.
14
Dhammapada, Atthakatha, vol. iii, pp. 438; Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, vol. iii, p. 288.