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28 Kshamapana
gentleman from the Gandhara kingdom came to worship this divine idol. On account of the fatigue of the journey and the change of climate he fell ill. Seeing this condition of her God's devotee, he hunch-backed maid-servant took pity on him, nursed him well and cured him. In return, the gentleman gave to the maid-servant a medicinal gold-pill to make her extremely beautiful. The maid-servant then longed to be a queen. Udayan lived a lotus-like life and so the maid-servant hinted to Chandapradyota, the king of Avanti. Chandapradyota, the king of Avanti, carried the maid-servant off. The maid-servant brought with her the sandalwood idol which she worshipped everyday.
When king Udayan heard this news, his mind became restless. Chandpradyota had robbed him of his good name. As a dutiful king, he thought that Chandapradyota had outraged his dignity and become his enemy and the enemy should be killed. With all royal authority, he gave a call to ravage the kingdom of Avanti and to imprison or kill the king. But Udayan, the discriminate and religious king, knew that much injustice is done if one fights a battle in exitement. Along with the guilty, the innocent are killed. King Udayan, Bhagavan Mahavir's devotee, first sent his
Kshamapana 29 messengers but Chandapradyota took this for cowardice. At last, Udayana called up his army. He decided to fight the battle with the least possible violence. The purpose was served by a duel between the two kings. On the battlefield of Avanti, Udayan, the royal king, and Chandapradyota, the king, fought like two clouds full of thunder and lightning. Chandapradyota, the proud king, could not reject the royal king Udayan's challenge to a duel and in no time he was defeated. The adamantine body of Udayan was so strong that even this lustful king who knew a thousand treacheries, could not defeat him. Soon the fell supine and was bound in iron chains. King Udayan became victorious.
King Udayan entered the kingdom of Avanti. He spread the message of non-violence and declared that the innocent would be protected, and that nobody should fear brute strength. King Pradyota was imprisoned and the words 'a maidservant's husband' were written on his forehead. Thus, king Udayan conquered Avanti and returned. These were the days of the months of Shravana and Bhadrapada. This devotee of Bhagavan stopped the march of the army for the eight days of Paryushana and pitched his tents at a safe place. The Samvatsari day came. In the
