Jain Journal 1971 04

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

Page 39

228
JAIN JOURNAL
At that time Sri Nemi had stopped in the Pallava country and nobleminded Kubjavaraka became a mendicant there. The wives of Rama, Krsna and others, who had not been initiated previously, recalling Nemi, observing a fast, perished. Sixty and seventy-two crores of families were consumed. Thus the city was burned in six months and then was covered by the ocean.
And now, as Krsna (and Rama) was going along. Krsna became extremely thirsty from heat and fatigue, from grief, and the destruction of accumulated merit. Krsna said to Bala: "My palate dries up from thirst. I am not able to go to this forest, though it is full of shady trees."
Balabhadra said: "I shall go for water, brother. You stay here, resting under a tree, on guard." Putting one foot on his knee, covering himself with a yellow garment, Hari went to sleep under a tree on the road. Rama said again : "O brother, dearer than life, while I am gone, do not be careless for a moment." Looking up, he said: "Goddesses of the forest, my younger brother is under your care. Dearer than the whole world, he must be protected." With these words, he went for water.
Jara's son came there, a hunter, carrying a bow, dressed in a tiger skin, wearing a long beard. Roaming for hunting, he saw Krsna like that and with the idea that he was a deer, Jareya shot him in the sole of the foot with a sharp arrow. Getting up quickly, Krsna said: "I, without any misdeed on my part, have been wounded by an arrow in the sole of the foot by a trick by some one who did not speak. I have never before killed any one, my family and name being unknown. So let your honor tell your family and name."
Standing in the trees, he said: "I am the son of the Dasarha, Vasudeva, moon to the ocean of the Hari's line, and of Jara, Jarakumara by name. I am the elder brother of Rama and Krsna. After hearing Sri Nemi's prediction, I came here to protect Krsna. I have been living here twelve years now and have not seen a human being here. Tell me, sir, who you are."
Krsna said: "Come! Come, tiger of men. I am Hari, the very brother of yours for whose sake you became a forest-dweller. Your effort for twelve years has been in vain."
Hearing that Jarakumara came there hastily, saying: "Is this Krsna?" and after seeing Krsna, swooned. Consciousness recovered