Jinamanjari 1998 09 No 18

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 15

Infatuated with young Billa, she ceases this opportunity to slay her husband. At this juncture, the Billa brother shakes the grip of the sword from Madanamañjari's hand, the sword falling in front of Agadadatta. Agitatedly, he queries her, “What is it ?” She replies, "Due to my nervousness the sword has dropped from my hand.” The next morning, the couple proceed towards home.
The Billa brothers witnessing the act of Madanamañjari with infatuation and treachery, become disgusted in life and enter asceticism. Once, Agadadatta when riding on a horse, which turns violent in the middle of the ride, runs into a distant forest away from the town, and gathering himself from the subjected peril, he descends down the horseback. In search of his way out on foot, he comes to a place where five young Billa brothers turned monks are residing. On enquiry how they chose to enter asceticism, he hears from them the whole account of their reason and disgust which led them to become monks. Realising that it his own account, Agadadatta repents and begs them to administer religious ordination to him in order to end attachment to worldly things and women. Thus Agadadatta enters the monkshood.
The moral of the story: “The wise may know the measure of sand of the river, the measure of water in the ocean and the measure of the Himalayan mountains, but will they know the heart of woman?”
First appeared in Baraha Bāgina (Kannada) Felicitation Volume of Dr. Hampana pp.319-330, Ed. H.V. Nageshsa, Shimoga-577201, India 1996.
REFERENCES
1 The Vasudevahindi of Sanghadāsagani, Ed. Dr. J. C. Jain, L.D. Institute, India 1977. 2. Ibid., pp.27-28. 3. Ibid., p.8. 4. Ibid., p.11. 5. Ibid., p.13. 6. Ibid., Foreword,p.8. 7. Ibid., p.595. 8. Ibid.
For Private 3ersonal Use Only