Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 35

Once in the season of spring, Pradyot planned a grand festival in his favorite garden. There he invited musicians and also asked Vasvadatta and Udayan to participate. For Udayan that was an opportunity to escape. He asked Vasavadatta to get ready for that. She arranged for the speediest female elephant for the purpose. Udayan managed to tie to the elephant four pots of her urine. Then they rode over her and quickly marched towards Kaushambi. As Pradyot learnt about the escape, he sent his men on Analgiri to pursue Udayan. After 100 miles Analgiri got close to the escapees, so Udayan released one pot of urine and rode ahead while Analgiri stopped for the odor of the urine. That way Udayan released one pot every time Analgiri got close. So Analgiri could not reach them before they safely entered the border of Kaushambi. The pursuers had therefore to go back because the army of Kaushambi was ready to give them a fight. Pradyot got furious and started preparations for invading Kaushambi. His advisers however pacified him stating that any way he had to find a suitable match for Vasavadatta and there was hardly any one better than Udayan; he should therefore bless him as son in law. Pradyot saw the wisdom of the advice. He therefore accepted the fait accompli and sent jewelry and other valuables as gifts to the son in law.
Meanwhile Abhaykumar had not forgotten the challenge that he had given to Pradyot. He had located a man who closely resembled Pradyot. Then along with that man and two beautiful city girls, he came to Ujjayini in the guise of a trader. He rented a house on the main road and started carrying his man tied in a rope to the far off place of a physician, while the man kept shouting that he was Pradyot, the king of Malwa and that he was being abducted. To the people who inquired, Abhaykumar used to explain that the man was his brother, who out of insanity, thought that he was the king of Malwa. As that became a scene of daily occurrence, people got accustomed to it and stopped making any inquiry.
Meanwhile those two city girls were flirting and casting their charm around. Once Pradyot happened to see them. He was attracted by their beauty and sent his maid servant for inviting them to the palace. The girls however spurned the offer. Pradyot then sent an expert maid together with valuable gifts to persuade them. Then the girls took her in a corner and said with apparent secrecy that they were attracted by the king, but they were with their brother who was very strict and were therefore unable to oblige the king. They however pretended to confide that their brother was to go to other place on the 7th day. If the king could therefore secretly come to the place on that day, they would be happy to serve the king.
Pradyot was pleased to get the message. On the 7th day he secretly went to the place without any fanfare. As he entered, the girls invited him to the bedroom. Abhaykumar was waiting there. With the help of his man he tied Pradyot tight with a rope. At the regular time, he brought him out in bondage apparently for taking to the physician. Pradyot was shouting loudly that he was the king and this man was abducting him. All the people around were however accustomed to witness that scene. No one therefore came to his rescue and Abhaykumar carried him to Räjgruhi with the help of prearranged convoys. There he was presented to Shrenik who got ready to sever his head. Abhaykumar however pointed out that, as king of Malwa, the body of the captive was inviolable. He was brought to Räjgruhi simply for teaching him the lesson that anything can be done by intelligence. The performance being over, Magadha should better offer to him its friendship. Shrenik accepted the advice, released Pradyot from captivity and offered to him valuable gifts in token of friendship of Magadha.
(16)
DHANNÄ AND SHÄLIBHADRÄ