Jain Journal 1969 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 21

JANUARY, 1969
115
King Cetaka was a devotee of Mahavira. He had taken the twelve vows of a Jaina devotee. In addition he had his own special vow, “I will not shoot more than one arrow a day." His arrow was an unfailing one, one which never missed the target. On the first day of the fight, Kalikumara came as the commander-in-chief from Ajatasatru's side. He put his forces in an eagle order'. King Cetaka organised his army in a 'cart order'. There was fierce fighting. King Cetaka using his unfailing arrow, killed Kalikumara. Similarly, every day each of the other nine brothers came forward as the chief commander and was killed by the unfailing arrow of king Cetaka.
At that time Mahavira was present in Campa city. Kali, etc., the ten queens—the mothers of the ten dead princes-asked Mahavira questions pertaining to the battle. Mahavira told them the details of the death of princes, Kalikumara, etc. The queens were so overwhelmed that they got initiated in his order. 59
Kunika fasted for three days. He then worshipped the gods, Sakra and Camarendra. They appeared. With their help the first day's Mahasilakantaka battle was planned. Kunika came to the battlefield well-protected with an impenetrable thunder-bolt-resistant armour made by Sakra so that Cetaka's unfailing arrow would not kill him.
A fierce fight took place; even a stone, a straw or a feather hurled by Kunika's men struck upon Cetaka's army as a heavy rock. In a day's battle eighty-four lac men were killed. On the second day, there was a battle of chariots. The automatic chariot made by god Camarendra wrought havoc with its hammer by moving about in the midst of the army throughout the day. In a day ninety-six lac men were killed. Cetaka, with the nine Mallakis and nine Licchavis, the eighteen republican kings of Kasi and Kosala, suffered defeat and king Kunika was victorious.60
Destruction of the ramparts of Vaisali
After the defeat, king Cetaka retreated into his city and shut the gate of the rampart. Kunika failed in breaking the rampart and laid a seize of the city. One day there was an oracle : “When śramaņa
69 Nirayavalika Sutra with commentary, p. 6(i).
Bhagavati Sutra, sataka 7, uddesaka 9, sutra 301.
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