Book Title: Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1
Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay
View full book text
________________
226 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
OUTLINE OF THE STORY IN THE MAHAVIRACARIYA
Prince Naravikrama, the son of King Narasimha of Jayanti Nagari, married Princess Silavatī the daughter of King Devasena of Harśapura. Once he saved the life of a pregant lady from the enraged royal elephant Jaya Kuñjara by killing it. Angered by the death of his favourite and auspicious elephant the king banished the prince from his kingdom. Śilavati followed her husband undeterred by his persuasion to go to her father's kingdom.
Naravikrama leaves his father's capital Jayantinagarī, and goes to Syandanapura along with his wife Silavati and two sons, Kusumasekhara and Vijayasekhara. In Syandanapura the whole family works as servants of a Māli or gardener called Pätala. Naravikrama and Silavati had to gather fiowers from the garden and weave garlands. Silavati, again, had to go to the street with the Māli's wife to sell them.
Once when she was selling flower-wreaths a very wealthy sea-trader (Vahāņavati) named Dehilla was attracted towards her. Every day he used to buy wreaths from her and tried to create a very good impression on her. One day he asked her to deliver garlands on the sea-shore from where he was to sail for far-away countries. When Silavati went there he kidnapped her and sailed off.
Naravikrama, with his two sons, came on the bank of the river in search of his wife. Keeping his two sons awaiting he left for the other bank in search of Silavati.
When he reached half-way in the river, he was suddenly dragged by the powerful current of the flooded waters. He was, however, saved by a log of wood and ultimately reached the outskirts of the Jayavardhananagara. Kirtivarmā the king of the city, had died all of a sudden without an heir to the throne and the ministers of the kingdom were out to elect a new king with the help of a devine elephant. The elephant spotted Naravikrama and garlanded him. According to the customs they made him their king.
Naravikrama was, nevertheless, very unhappy because of the separation from his wife and two young sons. He was advised by a holy Jaina monk to perform religious duties, so that he could be reunited with his family.
The waiting sons of Naravikrama were found and reared up by a shepherd who was quite friendly with the kings of Jayavardhananagara. When he came to visit the king along with his two adopted
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
