Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
2. II
of kingship passed to the eldest son, the crown-prince, after the death of his father according to the law of primogeniture. Even during the life-time of the ruling king the throne was abdicated by him in favour of his eldest son in accordance with this law.
But sometimes, under special circumstances the nephew (sister's son) of the ruling monarch was selected and anointed by him as his successor in place of his own eldest son, the rightful heir to the throne. Thus an instance is come across in the Bhs in regard to the case of the succession of prince Keśi. kumāra', the nephew of king Udāyana of Sindhu Sauvīra (bhāinejja) to the throne which was abdicated by his uncle in bis favour, having put aside the rightful claim of his eldest son, prince Abhīcī, on the ground that if the kingship was conferred on him, he might intensely be infatuated, attached and tied to it and consequently to the realm, state, pleasures anů enjoyments. As a result of these attachments and enjoyments, "he would travel again and again on the beginningless and endless long path in the forest of four-bordered world''. So king Udayana selected and installed his nephew, Keśikumāra, on the throne of Sindhu-Sauvīra to govern his kingdom before renouncing the world for undertaking the state of houselessness, after getting initiated by Lord Mahāvīra to Sramana Dharma.
There is another instance of succession of a nephew (sister's son) revealed in the commentary on the Uttarādhyayana Sutra? in which it is stated that Gaggali, the nephew of Sāla and Mabāsāla of Pitthi-Campā was anointed king by his uncle Sāla in the absence of a son before his renouncing the world for under. taking the ascetic life.
The BhS does not give any idea about the succession to the throne after the death of a heirless king or after joining the ascetic order by only one son of a king leaving the wordly life.
1 Bhs, 13, 6, 491.
? Ib. 13, 6, 491. 9 The Sisyahită commentary on Uttarādhyayana Sutra, 10,
p. 153 f. 4 Cf. Nāyādhammakahāo-14., P. 153 f.