Nalrayavadanti Charita

Author(s): Ernest Bender
Publisher: American Philosophical Society

Page 71

VOL. 40, PT. 4, 1950) TRANSLATION
331 There ruled King Nişadha, the very sun to the lotuses Dhūsari, exalted by her piety after she had fallen of the royal family of Rşabha, skilled in the laws, an from heaven, was conceived in the womb of the ocean of seriousness. (23)
queen. (35) On an auspicious day a daughter was His chief queen was named Sundari, famed for her born and the good news was proclaimed in the town loveliness and virtue. Because of her sweetness of (with the sounding of musical instruments). The king speech she was considered Indrāni in (human) form. gave many gifts and proclaimed) a festival equalling After he fell from heaven, because of the virtue of [those on Mount Meru. (36) giving the milk to the muni, he was conceived in her T hrough the miraculous result of her meritorious womb with auspicious dreams as a glorious son. (24) deed in the previous [birth] (in putting tilakas on
"May I pay reverence to the Jinavara and the gurus Jina-images), there appeared on her forehead a mark and cause to be distributed many alms." This which shone all her life and dazzled the world as does pregnancy-wish the queen had in mind. The king the sun. (37) In conformity with the dream she was fulfilled it to the letter. (25)
given the beautiful name Davadanti. Then on a night of an auspicious tithi under the Day by day the princess waxed-in beauty a veribest constellations and planetary influences a son was table goddess. (38) When she reached the age of born. The king, with joy immeasurable in his heart, eight, she was placed under the tutelage of a pandit. inaugurated many celebrations. He caused the jails Taught the eighteen alphabets, she was an avatāra to be emptied and many gifts were given. Arches and of the goddess Sarasvati. (39) In possession of a poles were erected and drums were beaten. (26) matchless knowledge of the sciences and all the guņas Bards sang poems of praise and women of the best and kalās, she perceived and understood the teachfamilies sang songs. Bravo! Bravo! was shouted ings of the Jinavaras and the nine tattvas 8 and amongst the townsfolk. His kin were delighted with Samyaktva.o (40) gifts of food, clothing, and gold. The king called his She worshipped the arhat-devas and did service to son Prince Nala. (27)
the gurus and nuns. Upon attaining youth she Day by day Prince Nala throve like the moon in its reached perfection, defeating in wantonness Rati 10 light fortnight, preeminent in form and beauty [and] and Rambhā. (41) Made complete by the power of a delight to the eyes of man. He was versed in the her punya, Davadanti was given an image of the seventy-two kalās; could recite and discuss in detail Jina Sānti by her sāsanadevatā and she worshipped the entire grantha; and knew well the pure doctrine [it]. (42) of the Jinas, whose essence is the knowledge of the nine T hen, one day (the king) realized, "My daughter tattvas and Samyaktva (Perfection). (28) He did not Davadanti has achieved youth. She has reached omit the study of the use of the thirty-six types of
eighteen years and is full-grown." He became conarms. Through wisdom he did not disregard the tra
cerned with (the choice of a husband of the best family ditional conduct due one's ancestors. [On the other
and excellent virtues. After making due inquiry of all hand] his younger brother, Kübara, was said to be a
his eminent counsellors, the king then caused to be
commenced whatever was suitable for a great svayamdepository of guile. On reaching youth Prince Nala
vara which should be proclaimed throughout the was declared the equal of Hari. (29)
world. (43) Just as I have described the birth of the very virtu
Outside the city Bhima caused many camps to be ous Prince Nala, the treasury of beauty, now hear erected for the kings and a splendid pavilion adorned briefly expressed everything about the incarnation of according to the custom with silver walls of the whiteQueen Davadanti. (30)
ness of curds; (44) with a delicate svastika of emerald There is a most excellent city, Kundina, which is the and a floor of lovely yellow gold, beautiful with ruby ornamentation of the land of Vidarbha. In that place pillars, and pictures of säras-birds and parrots, (45) ruled Bhimaratha, the acme of kings. (31) His queen in which appeared cut out of jewels delightfully beauwas Puspadanti. In the middle of the night, [the tiful images of women at the sight of which one falls queen) while asleep, saw in a dream an elephant down in rapt adoration. The pearls of their necklace (danti) which, frightened by a forest-fire (dava), came cast a gleam through the spacious halls which were to the palace. (32) On the following morning, upon draped with rich hangings. (46) Within there was awakening, she related this to the king to learn its erected all around a beautiful dais of jewels of the fivemeaning. The king saw that the result would be an colors-a veritable clash of corruscating gems. On excellent child-[one destined to be] mighty. (33) top of this were placed] square lion-thrones. (47)
While they were talking a white elephant came and, Clusters and garlands of flowers, delicate to the touch, having taken the king and queen up on its back, went
7 See Johnson, 1931: 1: 153, fn. 196; and Bühler, 1898: 25. around the city being greatly honored. When it came
The fundamental principles; Johnson, 1931: 1: appendix IV, to the king's palace, it stopped. (34) The king de
pp. 437-450. creed a festival without equal.
Jaini, 1940: 49.
10 One of the two wives of Käma, the god of love. See M. Bloomfield, 1920.
11 A famed Apsaras or female divinity.