________________
507
Syāmāyati, used to attend the Buddha's sermon every day. Then she started reproducing the words of the Buddha. Under her influence, even Queen Syāmāyati was attracted to the Buddha in her devotion. When the Buddha passed from beneath the palace, she used to pay him her homage and obeisance from her window. Her co-wife Magandiya reported all this to King Udayana, As Udayana happened to be hostile to the Buddha and his order, he became displeased with her. It was only through the divine grace that the queen could save her life. When at last the king's anger was pacified, at the request of Queen Syāmāyati, he gave permission for inviting the Buddhist monks to the palace for receiving food. After the monks had dined, the women of the palace desired to give them clothes, to which, again, the king raised objection. But after Ananda had convinced him of its utility, he agreed(219).
There is nothing on record to establish that Udayana ever met the Buddha, According to the Samyutta Nikāya · (220), the king saw Pindola Bharadvāja at Ghoşitārāma at Kausambi. He discussed with him why young folks became monk and said in the end,
"I take shelter with the Buddha, with the Dhamma and with the Sangha. May thou accept me as a follower who has come to seek protection with thee".
Review
All the Jaina records are unanimous in showering praise on him, while all the Buddhist records have nothing but indignation for him. There is a description even to the effect that once he had red ants sprayed on Pindola Bharadvāja. On hearing about this, the Buddha is reported to have said,
"Not only in this life, but in his previous life, too, Udayana had been a source of pain to monks". (221).
From these, it may be definitely inferred that Udayana was at first a follower of Mahāvira. The eulogistic records about him in the Jaina literature and contemptuous references in the Buddhist literature are not the only
