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the dexterous handling and settlement of a border dispute, Srenika rewarded Abhayakumāra with a fine dancing girl (170). According to the Jaina account, however, King Srenika had a sister named Senā. She was married with a Vidyādhara. When Seņā had been murdered by other Vidya: dharas, her daughter was sent to Sreņika. Srenika settled this girl as the wife of Abhayakumara (171).
Initiation into the Buddhist Order
It has been stated in the Abhayarajakumara Sutta of the Majjhima Nikāya, (172), in part, as follows:
Once Bhagavān Buddha was lodged at the Kalandaka Nivāpa in Venuvana at Rājagrha. At that time, Abhayarājakumāra went to Nigantha Nātaputta who said to him,
"Rājkumāra. Discuss the meaning of the Sūiras.with Sramana. Gautama. This will help you to be famous. People will say, Abhayarajkumara discussed the meaning of the Sūtras with Sramana Gautama who is such a powerful person".
"Bhante! How shall I open the discussion"? In giving him the guidelines, Mahāvīra said,
"You start like this: "Can Tathāgatà speak such words as may sound harsh to others"? If Sramana Gautama's reply be in the affirmative, then ask him about the distinction between the Tathāgata and an ordinary person. Even an ordinary person does the same. If the answer be in the negative, then ask him why he made a forecast about Devadatta that he was destines to go down, that he would go to hell and be lodged there for full one kalpa and that nothing would save him. Being querried thus from both the angles, Sramana Gautama will be able neither to Swallow nor to dis gorge. His condition then will be like that of a man who has a hook stuck up in his throat which he can neither take in nor throw out.
Having saluted Nigantha Nataputta, Abhayarājakumăra got up from there and came to the Buddha. He saluted
