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Story of Madanarekhā and her son Nami
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Yugabāhu's son. It happened that one of king Nami's elefants tore out his hitch-post and started for the Vindhya forest. He was caught and tamed by king Candrayaças. Nami, hearing of this, sent an envoy to Candrayaças, demanding his property, but his request was rejected haughtily. Thereupon he laid siege to Sudarçana, Candrayaças' capital city (936).
The nun Suvratā, mother of both kings, came upon the field, and was received with distinction by Nami. After pointing out the futility of war in general, she divulged to him that he was battling against his own brother, and that she herself was his mother. Suvratā next went to Candrayaças and told him the same history. Both brothers hastened to meet one another in mutual love; Candrayaças resigned his kingdom to his younger brother, and Nami's royal splendor blazed like the sun (958).
It happened that king Nami contracted a fever that lasted six months. When all expedients of the doctors had failed, the queens themselves began to pound sandalwood 43 for his benefit. The tinkling of their bracelets annoyed the king, so that, by his order, the queens took off their bracelets one after another, but each left one bracelet on her wrist for luck. The king then, no longer hearing the sound, inquired whether the queens had stopped pounding sandal. The ministers explained that they were still pounding, but that no sound came from a single bracelet. From this the king saw a light, namely, that the solitary state is bliss.44 When he had recovered from his fever, he placed his son on the throne, and took the vow. Indra, wishing to tempt Nami, stood before him
* Sandal is proverbially cooling.
“Nami is one of the four traditional Pratyekabuddhas; see the note on p. 116.
