________________
Nirayaavalika-Upang-8- Chapter 1
the renowned Chitt Charioteer in the four prongs of politics, namely saam incantation), daam (bribery), bhed, (guile), and dand (threat)... and so on up to... He held the reigns of the state and was its well-wisher and astute governor.
King Shrenik had another queen named Chelana. She was extremely delicate and beautiful ... and so on up to...) and enjoyed life.
Once, free of all worries, queen Chelana was sleeping in a comfortable bed in her bedroom. Sometime during the night queen Chelana, like queen Prabhavati, saw a lion in her dream and woke up. Later, the king called dream interpreters and asked for the meaning of the dream. After they told the meaning of the dream they were greated with due honour. Accepting the words of the augurs happily, Queen Chelana returned to her quarters. (This conveys that Queen Chelana had become pregnant.)
Commentary - Detailed description of the marriage of King Shrenik with Nanda, birth of Abhaya Kumar, his appointment as a minister and other incidents are included in the appendix. Details about Chitt Charioteer are available in Rayapaseniya Sutra, aphorism-206. The dream sequence of seeing a lion and other information is like the story of Mahabal Kumar in Bhagavati Sutra, Shatak 11, Uddeshak 11. Here mainly three reasons have been given for Kaal Kumar's passage to hell extreme infatuation for mundane pleasures, deep involvement in extreme sins, extreme covetousness, including evil conduct.
[10] Meaning On completion of three months of pregnancy Queen Chelana had a dohad (desire of a pregnant mother)—"Blessed, fortunate, and contented are those mothers who brown, fry, and roast on stick the meat from the belly of their husbands (Shrenik in this case) and enjoy tasting and eating arid sharing with their friends with a variety of wines, namely sura, madhu, merak, madya, seedhu, and prasanna. And thus fulfill their dohad."
As this base and hurtful dohad could not be fulfilled, Queen Chelana was in a state of mental agony. She became anemic, emaciated, and weak like a famished person. Signs of aging appeared on her body. She lost the natural freshness and glow, and the healthy pink of her face was replaced by a sick gloom. In this sad state she sat gazing at the earth. She became apathetic to any and all sorts of cosmetics and adornments including flowers, perfumes, garlands, and ornaments. Her face and body lost the natural freshness and glow, like a crushed garland of Champa flowers. Hurt due to her unfulfilled desire, she plunged into the sea of grief and misery. Sitting with chin placed in her palm she was overwhelmed by deep melancholy.
Observing the dull, emaciated, and gloomy appearance of Queen Chelana her personal maids and attendants went to King Shrenik. Formally greeting him by placing their joined palms on their foreheads they said, "Sire! For some unknown reason today Queen Chelana is in an emaciated state of body and a gloomy state of mind."
Hearing this news from the maids King Shrenik was surprised. He became disturbed and worried. He immediately rushed to Queen Chelana. Seeing Queen Chelana in her emaciated state of body and gloomy state of mind, he asked, "O beloved of gods! Why have you become so weak and sad ?
Queen Chelana remained silent giving no heed to the inquiry by the king.
King Shrenik repeated the question again but in vain. Third time also the king asked the same question adding-"O beloved of gods! Am I not fit to be your confidant? Is it the reason why you are not revealing cause of your sorrow to me?"
Aagam - 19 - Nirayaavalika
Compiled by - Deepratnasagar
[8]