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INTERVENING STORIES
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57. The previous births of Madhu and Kaitabha or the story of
Sikhibhuti and Väyubhati:
Having completed the preceding story, Gautama refers to Sīta's rebirth as Prati-Indra in the Acyuta Vimāna. Then Śreņika enquired if any one else had enjoyed that high position. Gautama narrates the story of Madhu and Kaitabha who had attained the same position and were reborn as Samba and Pradyumna, the sons of Kșşpa (105.17-114). The story illustrates the fruits of observing severe penances.
Two brothers Sikhibhūti and Vāyubuti who were the sons of brahmin Somadeva and Agnilā of Saligrāma in the Magadha country, professed Vedic religion and boasted of their learning. They approached Muni Nandivardhana and challenged him to a debate. The monk asked them if they knew anything about their own past births. At this they were taken aback. Then the monk told them that they were jackals in their previous births and used to take flesh. He narrated their previous birth story as follows :
Once (pāmaraka) a farmer of Vanasthaligrāma left his implements behind in the farm. Two jackals devoured them and died there. They were reborn as the sons of Somadeva i.e. Śikhibhūti and Vayubhūti The farmer was reborn as the son of his own daughter-in-law. On account of perceiving his previous birth, the boy was observing silence because of his embarrassment in calling his son as his father. That boy was called for on the spot and the two Brahmins got convinced of the truth. Thereafter the people started ridiculing and denouncing the Brahmin-brothers and extolled the Sramana monk. At this humiliation they planned a plot and proceeded to the cemetery ground to kill the monk. But some Yakşa caught hold of them. At the request of Somadeva they were released. Then they gave up the Vedic faith and accepted the Jain a layman's vows and after their death they were reborn as celestial beings. Thereafter they were born as Nandana and Natānanda, being the sons of Dhāriņi and merchant, Samudradatta at Saketa and then on account of following the 'sāgāradharma' they became celestial beings and from there they were reborn as Madhu and Kai tabha, being the sons of Hemanabha and Amaravati of Vinītāpurī. In due course they succeeded the throne. Vírasena of Vadanagara requisitioned the help of Madhu to ward off the atrocities of a hilly chief, Bhima. When Madhu went there to subdue Bhima, he was enamoured of the beauty of Candrābhā, the wife of Vīrasena. He returned to Sāketa and sent for Vírasena. When Vīrasena went there his wife was kidnapped and put into his harem hy Madhu. She was
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