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INTRODUCTION
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should make the gifts to Brahmins of girls, elephants, cows etc. The king followed his advice which only went to enrich the Brahmins but did the king no good.
IL. For the life of Śreyāmsa see the Tables.
L, LI and LII. These three samdhis describe the narrative of the first set of Bala devas, Vasudevas and Prati-Vasudevas. During the regime of Sreyāmsa there lived at Rajagrha a king named Viśvabhati and queen Jaint. The king had a younger brother named Visakhabhūti and his queen was called Lakşmaņā. Jaini gave birth to a son called Visvanandi and Lakşmana to Visakhanandi. One day Visvabhäti saw an autumnal cloud disappearing in the sky. From this the king realised impermanence of samsāra, and giving his kingdom to his younger brother Visakhabhati, renounced the worldly life. When Visakhabhūti became king, Visvanandi became the Yuvarāja.
Now Visvanandi once went to his pleasure-garden called Nandana, and while he enjoyed life there in the company of women, Visakhanandi saw him. A desire to possess that very garden arose in his mind. He went to his father and pressed him to give it to him. The king agreed to do this, called Visvanandi and asked him to take charge of his father's kingdom, and told him further that he (Visakhabhati) would go to the frontier to overcome the rebelling tribes. Visvanandi did not like the idea that his uncle should go to fight, but told him that he would rather himself go for that purpose. Visakhabhati agreed and Visvanandi went away. During his absence Visakhabhati gave the Nandana garden to his son Visakhanandi. When Visvanandi returned, he found that his garden was taken possession of by Visakhanandi. Visvanandi got angry with his uncle and cousin. He wanted to attack his cousin who climbed up the tree. Visvanandi uprooted the tree with Visakhanandi on, and wanted to smash them both. Visakhanandi however escaped but climbed a stone pillar which Visvanandi smashed into pieces. Visakhanandi then ran away for life. At this time Viśvanandi was filled with pity that he attacked his cousin, and made up his mind to be a Jain monk. Visakhabhati also made up his mind to follow Visvanandi, placed Visakhanandi on the throne, went to the forest and practised penance. After his death he was born in the Mahāśukra heaven.
Now Visakhanandi was overcome by a powerful enemy, and ran away from his capital. He went to Mathura and became the minister of the king. Once his cousin, the monk Visvanandi, was going along the road on his begging tour when he was hit by a young cow that had recently delivered a calf, and Viśvanandi fell on the ground. Visakhanandi saw this from the terrace of the house of his courtezan, and insulted him. Unable to bear the insult Visvanandi formed a hankering that he should in his next life have a revenge on Visakhanandi. After his death Visvanandi was born in the Mahabukra heaven where his uncle Visakhabhati was born. Visakhanandi also was later overcome with disgust for his conduct, practised penance, and after death was born in the same heaven.
Now there lived in Alaka a king named Mayūragrīva and queen Nilanjanaprabha. Visakhanandi in his next life became their son and was named Ašvagrīva, a Prati-Vasudeva. He defeated his enemies and became the lord of the three continents of the earth, i. e., an Ardha-cakravartin.
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