Agam 19 Upang 08 Niryavalika Sutra English Translation

Author(s): Dipratnasagar, Deepratnasagar
Publisher: Deepratnasagar

Page 11

Nirayaavalika-Upang-8- Chapter-1
Those confidants happily accepted Abhaya Kumar's command and left. They came to an abattoir and collected a bag filled with fresh flesh and blood including intestines. They returned to Abhaya Kumar and placed that bag before him.
Abhaya Kumar cut a portion of the flesh with scissors and came where King Shrenik was sitting. (He explained to King Shrenik the secret plan and his role.) The king was then made to lie down flat on his back on a bed in privacy. The blood soaked flesh was placed on the kings exposed belly covering it with the entrails. It looked as if fresh blood was oozing from the belly. Queen Chelana was asked to sit in a high balcony overlooking the whole scene. The bed with King Shrenik lying flat was brought immediately under the balcony. Portions of King Shrenik's belly (false) were sliced with a knife and placed in a tray. King Shrenik acted as if he had fainted. Sometime later they both started talking.
After sometime Abhaya Kumar took the tray with slices of flesh from King Shrenik's belly, brought it to Queen Chelana and placed it before her.
Then Queen Chelana fulfilled her dohad with slices of flesh from King Shrenik's belly. This way Queen Chelana's dohad was fulfilled and she carried her fetus comfortably.
Commentary- This indicates that in those days desires of women were duly respected. Specially, fulfillment of the desire of pregnant women was considered to be an essential duty by the men-folk.
This also indicates that meat was not cooked in King Shrenik's kitchen and everyone, including Queen Chelana despised this. That is why Abhaya Kumar had to do this act and Queen Chelana was filled with feelings of remorse and repentance for this misdeed. Suppressing her natural affection and maternal love, she later threw the newborn on a heap of trash as an act of atonement.'
[11] Meaning-Some days later at midnight when, Queen Chelana was awake she was filled with this apprehension "The moment this child came to my womb it ate the flesh from his father's belly. Therefore, it would be good for me to destroy, abort, dissolve, and disintegrate this fetus (as otherwise on being born and getting mature he could bring harm to his father and the family). She firmly resolved to do so. She then made all efforts to destroy abort, dissolve, and disintegrate the fetus by taking a variety of medicines prescribed for that. However, she failed to destroy, abort, dissolve, and disintegrate the fetus.
When Queen Chelana failed to destroy... and so on up to... disintegrate the fetus with the help of a variety of medicines, she became tired, exhausted, disappointed, dejected, and sad. Then out of compulsion and in a distressed state of mind, she helplessly carried the fetus.
[12] Meaning After nine months of pregnancy Queen Chelana gave birth to a delicate and beautiful child.
After the delivery Queen Chelana was filled with this apprehension-"The moment this child came to my womb it ate the flesh from his father's belly. Therefore there are chances that on maturing he may end up being the scourge of the family. Therefore, it would be good for me to throw this infant on a heap of trash in isolation. Resolving thus she called a maid of her confidence and said "Beloved of gods! Go and throw this infant on a heap of trash in isolation."
That reliable maid heard Queen Chelana's instructions and accepted them humbly by joining her palms. She then lifted the child in the cup of her joined palms. She proceeded to the garden and threw the child on a forlorn heap of trash.
Aagam - 19-Nirayaavalika
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Compiled by - Deepratnasagar