Book Title: Introduction to Jainism and its Culture
Author(s): Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

Previous | Next

Page 232
________________ "Bhagavāna! If you are so strong why don't we test it by armswrestling?" Bhagavāna replied, "Brother! Why bother. If at all you want to test my strength just shift my foot from the ground." Kṛṣṇa got up and tried to shift Bhagavāna's foot using all his strength. He could not move even a toe of the foot. Joining his palms Kṛṣṇa commented, "Bhagavāna! You are phenomenally strong." Once again a similar incident occurred. One day Nemikumāra was enjoying the company of his sister-in-laws (wives of Kṛṣṇa). Jambavanti, one of the queens of Kṛṣṇa, taunted him with praise of her husband's valour. At this Nemikumāra got up and went into the armoury of Kṛṣṇa. Without any hesitation he stepped on the serpentpedestal and lifted the Śārǹga bow, strung it and playfully twanged many times. He also lifted and blew the Pañcajanya conch-shell. No one in the world has the strength to disturb these things belonging to Nārāyaṇa. But the strength of a Tīrthankara surpasses even that of Indra (king of gods), Cakravartī, and Nārāyaṇa. When Kṛṣṇa heard the twang and the booming sound of the conch-shell he got apprehensive and rushed to his armoury. He saw Nemikumāra blowing the conch-shell with the bow in the other hand. He thought, "Bhagavāna is exceptionally strong. How will I rule the country if he becomes an adversary." He affectionately took Bhagavana into the palace. He gave this matter a serious thought and sent an emissary to king Ugrasena with the marriage proposal of Nemikumāra with his daughter Rājīmatī (Rājula). Ugrasena was pleased to accept the proposal. MARRAIGE At proper time Nemikumāra's marriage procession set out for Junagarha. Throngs of Yadavas and other kings accompanied in a variety of vehicles. One end of the procession was still in Dvārakā when the other reached Junagarha. The bridegroom was riding a chariot. When the chariot reached Junagarha Rajula was standing with her friends in the balcony of her palace to get a glimpse of her beloved. She was filled with an unprecedented excitement. All of a sudden Nemikumāra saw a large number of animals herded and cordoned in an 215 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334