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The Gods Named Him "Mahāvira", the Great Hero
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in each case remained in the world.63 Sometimes, on the other hand, the queen drew the king also into the ascetic life. Kamalāvati, the wife of King Işukāra of Işukārapura in the vicinity of Kuru (in the North) won fame through the vigorous speech she addressed to her spouse. At the court of King Işukāra there lived a brāhmaṇa of the name of Brgu; he was a priest and had a wife called Yaśā. They were sorrowful because they had no children. One day, two gods visited them and announced that they would have two sons who would become monks during their youth. The parents made every possible endeavour to prevent their children seeing or hearing a muni, but in vain; when the moment came, they renounced the world. Bļgu, disconsolate, decided to follow their footsteps. Yaśā did her best to detain him, but as he would not allow his mind to be changed, she in her turn determined to follow her sons. As they had no other progeny, their possessions reverted to the king. When Queen Kamalāvati heard of this, she went to find the king and explained to him that all this wealth he was amassing was merely transitory. Of what use to him would these perishable treasures be one day, when he departed this life? Of no use whatsoever, for the dharma alone could save him.64 And she continued:
Just as a bird in a cage is not happy, (so I too have no joy). Breaking loose from the bonds of family [affection), poor and simple, without attachment, without possessions, free of hatred, I go to follow the dharma of the munis...65
63 Ibid., pp. 346-349; 365-366; 366-375; (Avaśyaka-niryukti Haribhadra 1284; 1311); cf. also PPN, pp. 795; 436; 420. According to tradition, they were nieces of Queen Trišalā, mother of Mahavira, and thus his cousins.
64 Cf. US XIV 1-40.
65 näham rame pakkhiņi pamjare vă samtāṇachină carisami monań
akiscanå ujjukada nirāmisā pariggaharambhaniyattadosā. US XIV 41; hatred: äraíbha or himsā.
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