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२६९] द्वाविंश अध्ययन
सचित्र उत्तराध्ययन सूत्र
CHAPTER 22 RATHANEMI
Foreview
Being the primacy of the description of Rathanemi this chapter in named as Rathanemi. The episode regarding Rathanemi is as follows
The ages ago ruled over the city Soriyapura (in present days Sauripura-near Agra city U. P.) in Braja circle, king Samudravijaya of Yadu lineage. They were ten brothers. Among them Samudra vijaya was the eldest and Vasudeva was the youngest. All the ten brothers were valient, so they were called ten-adorables-(EMTE).
According to ancient scriptures at that time in Soriyapur there was prevailing the tradition of two rulers. There were two governing parties-(1) Andhaka and (2) Vșsņi. Samudravijaya was the leader of Andhakas and Vasudeva was of Vrsnis. So both were called as kings-rulers.
The chief queen of Samudravijaya was Sivādevī, who had four sons-(1) Aristanemi, (2) Rathanemi (3) Satyanemi and (4) Drdhanemi.
There were two chief queens of Vasudeva-(1) Rohiņi and (2) Devaki. The son of Rohiņi was Balarama and that of Devaki was Srikrsna.
Srikrsna has murdered the ruler of Mathurā city, named Kansa, who was also the sonin-law of anti-Väsudeva (an epithet of ruler of three deccan regions of Bhāratavarşa) named Jarasandha. Due to the death of son-in-law Jarasandha became angry. He decided to uproot all the Yādavas. Due to the fear of attack by Jarasandha, all the Yādavas with Samudravijaya etc., left the Braja-circle and reached the western coast of ocean. There they populated Dvárakā city and established a vast kingdom.
The eldest son of Samudravijaya, was Aristanemi. He was most valient, supreme powerful, excellent beautiful; but had no interest towards the empirical pleasures. Still Samudravijaya and his queen Sivādevi were more eager to see their son married.
When Srikrsna insisted more for marriage then Aristanemi became silent. Taking his silence as acceptance, Srikssna searched for him the most beautiful maiden (girl) Rājīmati of Bhoja lineage and went out with a vast and adorned marriage procession.
Somewhat before the marriage spot, the groom Aristanemi, riding on elephant, saw innumerable animals and birds encaged in a vast enclosure. The poor beings were screaming and wailing. Aristanemi asked the cause of it to his charioteer (really the driver of his elephant).
Driver of elephant told-Among your marriage procession so many persons are meateaters. For their eating (food) these beings will be slaughtered. Frightened of their death these are screaming and wailing.
'These thousands of mum beings-beasts and birds-will be slaughtered for my marriage,' this thought trembled the compassionate heart of Aristanemi. He at once made free those
Samudra... Ingdom.
excellent
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