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LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA
above. It is mentioned that these ten princes fought in a battle with Kūnika against Cedaga."1 Nandisena and Kūniya are said to have been other sons of Seniya We are not told much about the former except that he controlled Secanaka, the pet elephant of his father. Later on, he joined the ascetic order.23 Küniya, Halla and Vihalla were born of Cellanā, Kuniya bcing thc eldest There was a great war between Küniya and his younger brothers 24 Halla and Vihalla entered the ascetic order under Mahavira 26
About Abhaya, it is said that once he asked Mahāvīra, "who will be the last royal sage.” The latter declared "The last royal saint is king Uddayana and after him the crowned kings will not take a low." Thereupon, prince Abhaya, fearing that his taking a vow would be impeded, refused to accept the throne. Once king Seniya went with queen Cellanå to worship Mahavira When they were coming back, queen Cellanā sau a great hermit standing in a meditation and enduring the torture of cold The qucen felt very sorry for the hermit. She went and slept at night in her bed In course of the night, her hand slipped out of her blankct and became cold She was immediately reminded of the hermit andwondered how would he get through the night. The king heard her speech and became doubtful about her chastity Next morning Seniya ordered Abhaya to burn down the harem, and himself went to Mahāvīra to ask whether queen Cellanâ was the wife of one or many. Mahāvira repiicd that she was devoted to only one husband and he explained what had happened The king returned to the palace full of remorse In the meantime, prince Abhaya set on fire an empty elephant stable and went to worship the fina. Later on, Abhaya renounced the world and joined the order, and Seniya made up his mind to give the kingdom to Kūriya 26
It seems Seniya also had daughters We are told in the Avasaraka cūrnia7 that he married one of his daughters to the son of Kayapunna of Rayagiha, who is said to have saved his pet elephant Secanaka from the jaws of a crocodile The same work also mentions a sister of king Seniya, Sena by name She was given to a Vijāhara in marriage, but she was killed by the Vigjüharis. Sená had given birth to a daughter who was sent to Seniya after the death of her mother and was given to Abhaya - kumāra in marriage. 28
31 Pauma, Mahåpauma, Bhadda, Subhadda, Mahābhadda, Paumasena, Paumagumma,
Nalinigiimma, Ananda and Nandana are mentioned as the ten sons of Käla, Sukala, etc.
(zhid 2) + Ca cũ II, p 171. 13 Thid, p 559. 14 See under 'Kuniya'. 36 Ava cū, II, p. 174. 20 Ibid. p. 1141. 37 P468. 28 II, p. 160. According to the Buddhist tradition, Seniya Bimbisära ruled for fifty two
years (Mahavainsa II. 28 f) For a full account, scc Law's some ancient Indian hinge, Buddhistic Studies, pp. 186 ff
