________________
341
Kumāra. Kāma déva Śravaka, and others, Now, knowing the thoughts of King Udāyana through Manah Paryava Jnāna (Mental Knowledge) he went in the direction of Vita-bhaya Nagara. Coming to Vitabhaya Pattana he had his lodgings at Mrigavana Udyāna King Udāyana greatly delighted at heart went for darsana along witir a large multitude of his relatives and citizens. On hearing the preaching, King Udāyana was much pleased, and going round Sramaņa Bhagavana Mahävira three times from right to left by way of a pradaksiņā, he said:- I shall install my son Abhiti Kumāra on the throne and making necessary arrangements for the kingdom, I am dessirous of taking Bhāgavati Dikṣā.'
With the permission of Śramaņa Bhagavāna Mahavira, the delighted king returned home. On the way, King Udâyana had an idea:-If I entrust my son Athiti Kumāra with the supreme authority over the kingdom, he may becoma entangled in the enjoyment of worldly pleasures and he may have to wander in this world for the anādi-antanta kála (time without a beginning and without an end). Therefore, it is desirable that I should hand over the management of the kingdom to my sister's son Kési Kumâra.
Kési Kumāra was thus appointed as the King of the entire Kingdom of Sindhu-Sauvira with Vitabhaya Pattana as its capia tal-town, and King Udayana took Diksā. Yuva-rāja Abhiti-Kumara was offended as his right to the throne was neglected. He, there fore, went away to Campă Nagari along with his family-members and attendents and lived there under the protection of King Kupik
After his Diksā, Udayana Râjarşı did severe penances and fastings By eating dry and un-nutritious food he contracted some chronic malady. The physicians advised him to take curds as food He was, therefore, living near a cow-pen.
One day Udayana Rājarsi went to Vita-bhaya Nagara-Kesi Kumāra was the king there. The wicked ministers of Kedi Kumāra told him:- This Udāyana has become disgusted with ascetic life.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org