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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
named Sudamshtra in the class of the nagakumara gods. In the beginning of my ascetic life, Sudamshtra tried to wreck the boat in which I was travelling. The same god is now reborn as this farmer. O Gautama, the past impressions of animosity were revived in him when he saw me. This is the reason why he felt restless when he saw me, threw away the monk's dress and ran away. The past impressions accompany us from birth to birth if we do not destroy them by our spiritual efforts. The true means to destrov defiling passions of animosity is the cultivation of the feeling of nonattachment and universal love."
Lust and Non-attachment
Innumerable sorrows had befallen Queen Mrugavati. Her husband died suddenly and the heavy burden of ruling the kingdom of Kaushambi fell on her shoulders. Her son Udayana was still a child. Queen Mrugavati was a loving mother and an expert ruler. The king of Ujjaini, Pradvota, was a lustful person who had no control over his passion and could not discriminate between right and wrong. He was so arrogant that he was known by the name of Chanda Pradyota.
He was obsessed with Queen Mrugavati and wanted her to be his wife. King Pradyota's army was very large and could easily defeat Kaushambi's small army. King Pradyota besieged the city of Kaushambi and sent a message that he would attack Kaushambi unless Queen Mrugavati agreed to become his wife. The army of Kaushambi wanted to protect their queen and were ready to fight.
However, Queen Mrugavati very well knew that it would be impossible to defeat King Pradyota. So, she came up with a plan. She sent a message to King Pradyota which said: "O King Pradyota, please give me some time to think over your proposal. My husband has died only very recently - even the mourning period is not over. Prince Udayana is still a child. It is my duty to make proper administrative arrangements in the kingdom before I can make the decision. Many surrounding kingdoms are eyeing my kingdom with a view to attacking and conquering it. I realise that if we enter into matrimonial alliance, then our kingdoms will become stronger and invincible. But it is not yet time for that. Please wait for a short while. I will write to you myself when I feel that the opportune moment has arrived."
Proud Chanda Pradyota agreed to wait for some time. He went back
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