Jaina Literature in Tamil

Author(s): A Chakravarti, K V Ramesh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 97

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A. CHAKRAVARTI :
Kaluṣavēga. Learning from an astrologer that his daughter would marry someone in Rājamahāpura, he wanted to send his daughter to that city. When he was waiting for an opportunity for this a merchant from that city Rajamahāpura, by name Śrīdatta, was returning home with ship-loads of gold as a result of his seaborne trade. Just like the magic ship-wreck effected by Prospero in Shakespeare's Tempest, this Vidyadhara king did create a magic ship-wreck and managed to bring the merchant Srīdatta to his court. There he was intimated why he was brought to the Vidyadhara capital; and he was instructed to take with him the princess Gandharvadattā to be given in marriage to anybody who would defeat her in a vina contest. Returning to his capital with this Vidyadhara princess, Srīdatta proclaimed to the citizens the conditions of vīņā-svayamvara and offered the Vidyadhara princess to one who would succeed in this contest. This contest was arranged with the permission of Kaṭṭiyangāran the then ruling king. Members belonging to the first three varṇas were invited for the contest. Every one got defeated by this princess Gandharvadattā. Thus elapsed six days. On the seventh day the prince Jivaka, who was taken by the citizens for merely a merchant's son, wanted to try his chance in this music contest. When Jivaka exhibited his musical skill in this contest, the Vidyadhara princess acknowledged him to be victorious and accepted him as her husband. Several princes who were assembled there, out of jealousy, wanted to fight Jivaka but all these were defeated and finally Jivaka took Gāndharvadattā home where he