________________
tions. Both claim him as a close follower, and both come forward with evidence in support of this claim. According to the Buddhist tradition, the Samanjaphala Sutta deals with the first meeting between the Buddha and Ajatasatru. According to the same text, during this meeting, he took the protection of the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. One important example of his great devotion to the Buddha that has been put forward is that he erected a vast stupa on the bones of the Buddha. So goes the account that when the last remains of the Buddha, bones and ashes after the funeral, were going to be distributed, at that time, Ajāta-. sastru, too, sent the following message to the Mallas at Kusinārā,
465
"The Buddha was a Ksatriya. I am also a Ksatriya.. Of his last remains, I must also have a share".
On the advice of the vipra Drona, he got a portion of the bones over which he erected the stupa (77).
According to the Samanjaphala Sutta, during a fullmoon night in the month of Kartika, Ajatasatru came to know of the Buddha from the royal physician Jivaka Kumāra Bhrtya, and during the same night, followed by his 500 queens seated on 500 elephants, he met the Buddha. It is difficult to say when he first met Mahavira; but all the accounts suggest an old acquaintance between the two in which Ajatasatru held Mahavira in the highest esteem. The Uvavai, which is the first Upanga of the Jainas, throws light on the relation between Mahavira and Kunika. The same text contains beautiful description about the city of Campa and also about Kunika's kingdom. Regarding the great esteem in which Kūnika held Mahāvīra, It is stated therein, in part, as follows:
"He had an officer to report about the daily routine of Mahavira to him. He was very lavishly paid. His duty was to report to the king about the day-to-day affairs of Mahavira. The officer had a vast supporting field staff through whom he collected all the information about Mahavira and reported it to the king (78).
The Uvavai Sutta has a detailed and illuminating discussion on Mahavira's arrival at Campa and the honour
