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NIRAYAVALI SOTRA (NIRAYAVALIYA SOYA)
87
for the protection of his maternal grandfather king Cedaga of Videha and Vesāli in this emergency. Kūņika sent an emissary to Cedaga for the surrender of Vehalla together with Sreyanāga and the necklace. King Cedaga brought the matter to the notice of the nine Licchavis and the nine Mallakis and the kings of Kāśi and Kosala then in alliance. A terrible battle ensued. Thie ten half-brothers of Kūnika fought on his side and they were all killed in action and were reborn in hells. The anecdotes of the twelve princes of the Vrsni race show the brighter side of the picture. They by their virtuous deeds were all reborn in different heavenly worlds. The Vrsni stories are better told in the Amtugududusão.
The Jaina verdict on the fate of Kūnika's ten half brothers is rather hard and partial. No remark is made on the action of king Cedaga vidently for the reason that he happened to be the maternal grandfather of Mahāvīra himself. King Kunikat of (ampā passes in Jain literature its an ideal king quite contrary to the picture given of him in the Pali (amon, It seems that all the historical legends as met with in many of the Jain books were invented with a theological motive from which the Buddhist legends too are not absolutely free.
B. ( Law, Buddhistic Studies, chapter VII.
