________________
202
CHAPTER SIX her with pure food, drink, et cetera. Listening to dharma from her, enlightened, she took the vow. Observing fasts of one day, two days, three days, et cetera, she wandered daily with Āryā Gopālikā. One time, looking at the sun, she said to the Aryā, ‘I shall do the penance of burning in the sun, standing in the garden Subhūmibhāga.' She (the Aryā) said:
The penance of burning in the sun is not done outside of one's own place. That is prescribed for nuns in the Agama.'
Just as if she had not heard that, she went to the garden Subhūmibhāga and began the sun-penance, her eyes fixed on the sun. She saw the courtesan named Devadattā, who had come there, being held on the lap by one lover, with an umbrella held by another, being fanned by another with a pleasant breeze, her hair being bound by another, her feet being held on the lap by another. She, whose desire for pleasure had not been satisfied, made a nidāna: 'May I have five husbands, like her, as a result of this penance.'
Devoted to personal cleanliness, she sprinkled (herself) at every step; being restrained by the Āryā, she thought: 'In the past when I stayed in a house, I was respected by the Aryā, but now that I am a mendicant, she scolds me in this way. Enough of her.' Having considered so, she remained in a shelter apart. Alone, voluntarily she observed the vow for a long time. After fasting for eight months, she died without confessing and became a goddess in Saudharma with a lifeterm of nine palyopamas. When she fell, she became Draupadi and these five husbands were caused by that nidāna in the past. What is surprising in that?”
Pandavas go to Dvärakā (356–378) When this had been told by the muni, there was a voice in the air saying, “ Well done! Well done!” Krşņa and the others said, “It is good that these husbands happened.” The Pāņdavas married Draupadi with a festival held by the same kings and kindred who had come to thé svayamvara. Then Pāņņu escorted the Daśārhas, Kțşņa, and the other kings invited
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
