________________
168 :
śramana, Vol 59, No. 4/October-December 2008
Sumangalā bore children Bharata and Brāhmi. Lady Sunandā gave birth to Bähubali and Sundari. In course of time forty-nine pairs of twin-sons were born to Sumangalā.25
The span of Bhogabhūmi had by this time completely disappeared and with that efficacy of the Kalpavşkșa went down. Human population started to increase and the society became disorganized and incapable of self-sustenance. Some experienced, wise and senior yugalikas reported the graveness of situation to Rşabhadeva. Then according to his father's will Rşabhadeva became the king26. He was almost the father of the concept of kingship. He gave protection to his subject (prajā) as a father. He appointed enterprising ministers to make the people follow the repression of the evil and to protect the righteous. He appointed eleven home guards to present theft. He took some measurements to save his kingdom from wars. Those were as follows: Elephantine armaments, stables were full of well-bred horses, nice wooden chariots with skilled get up; the army chief appointed by him became a pillar of the new empire. Cows, bulls, buffaloes, mules, camels, were well tamed. In fact Rșabhadeva was a good organizer.
He created a civilization during his monarchy even among people who did not know the use of fire. He was a versatile genius and self-taught in innumerable subjects. Ķşabhadeva was the first to teach the people pottery. The occupation and craft taught by him was fighting, letters, cultivation, trades, professions (such as carpentry, goldsmith's work etc. and arts such as dancing, singing etc. 27 After that he taught masonry painting. People learnt from him how to earn their livelihood. People learnt the profession of barbers, grass cutters, woodcutters, and peasant and treads man. He introduced four policies like Sāma, Dāma, Darida and Bheda. It became a custom. We may remember that in Sanskrit the number is sixty-four "Catuhsasti-kală”. Rşabhadeva gave lessons to Bāhubali how to train elephants and horses. More over he taught him how to judge the character of males and females by their marks. He taught Brāhmi eight kinds of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org