________________
BIRTH, MARRIAGE, AND EXILE OF RĀMA AND LAKŞMAŅA 207
Bhāmaņdala, well-bred and with friendship produced at once, bowed to Rāma, touching the ground with his forehead.
Candragati sent the best Vidyādharas and had King Janaka and Queen Videhā brought there. He said to him, "This is your son Bhāmaņdala,” and told him the story of the kidnaping at birth, et cetera. Janaka rejoiced at that story like a peacock at thunder and his mother Videhā exuded milk. When Bhāmaņdala observed his parents, he bowed to them and they kissed him on the head and bathed him in tears. Then Candragati settled his kingdom on his son Bhāmaņdala and, wearied of existence, took the vow under Muni Satyabhūti. Bhāmandala bowed to Satyabhūti, Candragati, to his parents, and Anaraṇyaja (Daśaratha) and went to his own city. King Daśaratha bowed to the sage Satyabhūti and asked about his own former births. The muni related:
Previous births of Dasaratha (392-417) "You were a merchant of noble character in Senāpura and you had a daughter, Upāsti, by your wife, Dipikā. She became hostile to sādhus and wandered miserably through existence for a long time in births as animals, et cetera. After your soul had wandered in existence you became the son, Varuņa, by his wife, Sundarī, of Dhana in Candrapura. Then naturally liberal, you gave superior gifts to sādhus unceasingly with faith, and died. You became a twin in the Uttarakurus in Dhātakīkhanda and after death you became a god and then you fell. In the city Puşkalā in the province Puşkalāvati you were born Nandivardhana, the son of King Nandighoşa and Queen Pșthvi. Nandighosa installed you, his son Nandivardhana, on the throne, was initiated by Muni Yaśodhara, and went to Graiveyaka. You, Nandivardhana, guarded your layman's duties, died, became a god in Brahmaloka, and then fell.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
