Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 215

190
ŠTUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATİ SÛTRA
[Ćh. IV
queen Prabhāvati Devi of Sindhu-Sauvira' made pilgrimages to Lord Mahāvīra to attend his holy sermons delivered in the two assemblies of his followers at the Gunaiilaka Caitya outside the city of Rājag?ha and at Mrgavana in the city of Vitibhaya respectively. When king Udāyana undertook the state of houselessness by renouncing the world, after getting initiated by Lord Mahāvira to the Nirgrantha-religion, Prabhāvati Devī did not stand on his way as an obstacle to dissuade him from hi resolution,
Besides these instances, the Bhs presents other brilliant pictures of conjugal love, devotion, fidelity and ideal relationship between the husband and wife belonging to the three classes of families, viz. high, low and middle (uccaniyamajjhimāri Kulāim)".
Thus in one scene it is depicted how Bala, the king of Hastināpuras welcomed his queen, Prabhavati Devi on her approach to him in his bed-chamber in order to reveal the incident of her auspicious dream by which she was awakened from her sleep at midnight.
She was first received, seated on an auspicious seat and comforted by him with sweet words of love and honour and then she was inquired about the cause of her unexpected visit to him in an animated mood at such a time.
She gracefully submitted to him the whole account of her dream of a vision of a lion having a beautiful figure and descending and speaking own words.
According to his own intelligence king Bala interpreted this mark of dream thus that she would give birth to a great male child and then he congratulated the queen with these words that she was fortunate.
In another scene laid at Brāhmaṇakundagrāma a happy picture of co-partnership of the husband and wife in work and worship is presented in the rich aristocratic Brāhmaṇa family of Rşabhadatta'.
| Bhs, 13, 6, 491. $ 10, 11, 11, 429.
? 16, 15, 1, 540. 4 16, 9, 33, 380-82.