Treasury of Jain Tales

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 66

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travelling Vasudeva felt thirsty and tired. He rested under a tree and Balarama went out in search of food and water. He reached a town where King Rksadanta ruled. Balarama exchanged his precious ring and bracelet for a little food and started back for the forest. The guards of the town kept a careful watch on such a lustrous and marshal looking man and they thought that the barter was suspicious. They immediately informed the King who sent a party of his soldiers to catch hold of the reported person. Balarama called his brother for help and they both defeated the King's soldiers and succeeded in reaching the forest. Vasudeva slept under a tree and Balarama got out to get some water. It so happened that Jarākumāra, Vasudeva's elder brother, who was most anxious to avoid the cruel destiny of being the murderer of Vasudeva as had been predicted, had sought refuge in the same wood. He was looking for some animal to satisfy his hunger and he saw under the tree something like an animal and shot an arrow at it. Actually it was Vasudeva sleeping there with one leg resting on the knee of the other and covered by a garment. The arrow of Jarakumara hit the sole of Vasudeva causing a fatal wound. Jarākumāra realised to his horror and utter dismay what he had done. Vasudeva warned him to get away quickly lest Balarama, who was expected any time now, might tear him to pieces. Vasudeva said he should go away to Mathurato inform the Pandavas of the total destruction of Dvaravati.
Vasudeva realised that his end had come. He offered whatever salutations and prayer but could not prevent feelings of bitterness against Dvaipayana who had brought about the destruction of his dear city and of his people from entering into his mind. When he died he had such bitter feelings in his mind; he was sent therefore to the third hell to dwell there for a certain period of time.
Balarama would not willingly accept Vasudeva's death. He wandered through the forest carrying Vasudeva on his back refusing to treat him as dead and give him a funeral. His old charioteer Siddhartha came from the heaven to persuade him to cremate the body and with considerable grief, they both cremated Vasudeva at the confluence of two rivers.