________________
118 ]
[ The Previous Lives of Lord Mahavira
can meet me face to face in the battle. But this I feel and know for certain that all my efforts to subjugate these rulers are based mainly on physical power, enemity, cruelty and pride. It is quite probable therefore that some of the descendants of the kings whom I have defeated and subdued might stand up in revenge against me and attack me at any time. He might even kill me, who knows. As soon as this idea occured to him, he asked the astrologer, who was sitting by him. 'Is there any man in this world who is at enemity with me. If not ? is there any probablity of an enemy being born in the near future ?. Shall I be killed by the hands of my enemy and shall my kingdom pass into his hands ?' The astrologer taking into consideration the time at which the questions were put drew up a horoscope, and after a long and careful calculation found out the answers. But as they forbaded some misfortune to befall the Prativasudeva, he could not sum up enough of courage to reveal those answers to him. His face turned pale and he could not say any word. The Prativasudeva marked this and asked the astrologer to reveal the answers to him wihout any fear and hesitation. On this assurance the astrologer told him what was really going to happen in the near future. The sum and substance of his prophecy was that he (Prativasudeva ) would be slain by a man who would disgrace Chandavega, the chief of his messengers, and kill the lion roaming at large in the western part of his kingdom. Hearing this unwelcome prediction Ashvagriva humbly took leave of the astrologer, dismissed his court, and went to his harem (inner apartment ).
The prophecy of the astrologer came out to be true very soon. The news came that a lion had been molesting subjects in the western frontier of this kingdom and that
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
