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TRIBES IN ANCIENT INDIA
We have already referred to the long life of King Makhadeva of Mithila. One day this king, on his barber showing him a grey hair from his head, thought that his days were numbered. Handing over his kingdom to his son, the old king became a recluse, and developed very high spiritual powers.1
Sadhina, a righteous king in Mithila, kept the five silas and observed the fast-day vows. His virtue was praised by the princes of heaven who sat in the Justice Hall' of Sakra, and all the gods desired to see him. Accordingly, Sakra ordered Matali to bring Sadhina to heaven in his own chariot. Matali went to the kingdom of Videha on the day of the full-moon, driving his celestial chariot side by side with the moon's disc. All the people shouted, 'See, two moons are in the sky'. Then, when the chariot came nearer, they saw what it was, and concluded that it had come for their virtuous king. Matali went to the king's door and made a sign that he should ascend the chariot. After arranging for the distribution of alms, the king went with Mätali. One-half of the city of gods and twenty-five millions of nymphs, and a half of the palace of Vaijayanta were given to Sadhina by Sakra; and the king lived there in happiness for seven hundred years. But when his merits were exhausted, dissatisfaction arose in him, and he did not wish to remain in heaven any longer. The king was carried back to Mithila, where he distributed alms for seven days. On the seventh day he died, and was reborn in the heaven of the thirty-three (gods).2
Sakra is concerned in another legendary story about the Videhan royal family. Suruci, king of Mithila, had a wife named Sumedha who was childless. Sumedha prayed for a son. She took the eightfold sabbath vows (atthasilani), and sat meditating upon the virtues; and Sakra appeared to her and granted her boon.
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1 Jātaka (Fausböll), I, pp. 137-8. In the Makhadeva Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya, Vol. II, pp. 74-83) we find the same story with slight variations. Nimi, a later king, was like Makhadeva. Indra with other gods came to him and praised him. When Nimi reached the Assembly Hall of the gods, he was received cordially by Indra, and sent back to his kingdom in a celestial chariot.
2 Jātaka (Fausböll), Vol. IV, pp. 355-6. 3 Ibid., Vol. IV, pp. 315 foll.
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