Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

Author(s): Dharmdas Gani, H C Bhayani, R M Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 15

Vasudevahimdi Majjhima-khamḍa
2. Summary
(The figures in the brackets refer to the page numbers in the text) Introduction
Homage to Rsabha, Vira and all the remaining Jinas. Homage to the Siddhas and the Samgha (1)
People have often heard the love tales connected with Nahusa, Nala, Dhundhumara, Nisadha, Pururavas, Mandhätṛ, Rami, Ravana, Jamadagni's son (?) Rama, Kanravas, Pandavas and Naravahanadatta in the nonJain tradition. Hence they have become very fond of Kamakatha ('tales of worldly pleasures'), and have lost taste for Dharmakatha ('religious tales',. But Dharma is the source of Kama (worldly pleasures) So the author has undertaken to narrate tales of pleasure in such a manner that it will in the end inculcate religion to discerning listeners. So he appeals to listen to the Vasudeva-carita ('the life-account of Vasudeva'). His source for this is partly the Sacred Canon and partly the Tradition handed down among the Acaryas and representing the essence of the Drativada.
It is said that during his one hundred years wanderings Vasudeva had won as his wives one hundred princesses of the kings of Vidyadharas, humans and Vanaras. Of these the winning of twentynine princesses, starting with Syama and Vijaya and ending with Rohint were described by Vacaka Sangha asa in the narratives composed by him. But he omitted. the intervening account of the winning of seventy one girls as he was deterred by voluminousness (2). Therefore the author, unable to tolerate the adm ration of non-Jain tales of pleasure, and cut of devotion to the Sacred Traditioa, has underetaken to fill up that gap under the instruction of his. preceptor.
According to the tale narrated so far in Samghadasa's Vasudevahimdi, in Savattbi (Srävast) Vasudeva married Bandhumati, the daughter of the merchant Kamadeva, and Priyangusundari, the daughter of king Eniyaputta (Enikaputra) Thereafter he was staying at the latter's palace. Incidentally it may be mentioned that this tale is being narrated to Samba, Pradyumna and other princes by Vasudeva (V.) himself (3).
1. Winning of Prabhavati
(pp. 3-73)
While V. was passing his time in various enjoyments, one day there arrived Cardajasa (Candrayasas), the son of the Vidyadhara king Camdabha (Candrabha) and elder brother to Balacandra He brought a mess