Lilavati Sara

Author(s): Jinratnasuri, H C Bhayani, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 30

Introduction
21
(The Sub-story of Dhadāvaba) (251-361)
Dhadāvaha, a merchant of Kosalapura, was advised by his dieiog father to keep away from bad company and always cultivate good company. After the father's death he went abroad under the guise of pilgrimage to test the truth of his father's advice. H: accepted to serve one impoverished feudal chief, and there he made friendship with the latter's maid-servant and the Bhambhika (drummer-cum-executor)
Once in a battle, Dhanavaha saved the feudal chief's overlord from defeat by bravely attacking and killing the hostile king. The chief's overlord wanted to reward Dhanāvaha. The latter, however, requested to confer the favour on his master. The king first declined saying that the feudal chief had run away at the very onset of the battle, but after Dhanavaba's iosistence he gave the reward to the chief, who, however was untouched by any feeling of gratitude towards Dhadāvaba
In order to test him Dhapävaha stole the cbiet's pet peacock, and told bluffiogly the maid-servant that he bad eaten it out of hunger, requesting her not to divulage that to the master. The maid-servant, however, straightway conveyed this matter to the chief, who ordered Dhadāvaha's execution. Dhanāvaha requested his friend Bbāmbbila, who worked as the executor, to let him go alive, but the latter did not oblige He was set free only when he produced the live peacock. Thus, Dhanāvaha tested the truth of his father's advice not to befriend mean-minded persons.
Further, in order to test the truth of the latter part of his father's advice, Dhanāvaha went to Ujjayini and served King Jayaśāsana with such a devotion that the latter offered to made him one of his feudal chiefs. But Dhanāvaha preferred to stick to his humble position.
Highly pleased with this, the king passed standing orders to his treasurer to meet all the requirements of Dhanāvaha. Due to Dhanāvaha's special position, Devadattā, the royal courtesad, became favourably, disposed towards bim. And the foremost merchant paned Yasovardhana too became his friend.
One day when the king and Dhagāvaha were going to the court, a merehant brought two horses, which the king and Dhoāvaha rode. They reached a forest, where the king became extremely hungry and thirsty. Dhapāvaha procured three Amalaka fruits from a tree by his riding skill and gave them to the hungry king at proper intervals. At last they reached a lake where Dhadāvaha helped the king to quench his