Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

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

Page 32

Introduction
XI Wipping of Sukošala
(pp. 183-184)
Once a public announcement was made that princess Sukošala's Svayamvara was fixed up on a particular day. The Royal Jester remarked that it was pointless when V. was already there as the most obvious choice. In the Svayamvara, Sukošala chose V. The Jester snubbed those who, igaorant of V's greatness, tried to be critical about Sukošala's choice. The king Kcsala latter on told V. that Sukošala had fallen in love with V. already at the time of the latter's arrival in the city, but to avoid misunderstandiog on the part of his kinsmen he had arranged the forma. lity of the Svayamvara. V. thanked the king.
XII Winning of Lalitavegā
(pp. 185-196) Once a horse-dealer brought to King Kosala a white horse for sale. At the King's request V. mounted the horse for testing its quality. After a while the borse began to run with extraordinary speed and then it flew up in the air. Suspecting some foul play, V. struck a blow on the horse's neck. The horse fell down on the earth, and transformed itself into a Vidyadhara. At that moment a fierce lion, rushing down from the air, rounced upon V. V. struck him also with a heavy blow. Thereupon the lion transformed himself into a Vidyadhara. Both the Vidyadharas immediately jumped and disappeared in air (p. 185). V. found himself in the midst of a wilderness, Searching for water, he came to a lake where a fierce looking tribal shot an arrow at him. V. threw a boulder at that fellow. Then both of them got locked in a fierce combat. At that juncture an enormous swan attacked V. V. seized on: leg of both his attackers. They started growing enormously big, so much so that their free legs rested on the mountainpeaks. Uodaunted by this, V. pulled them by the leg. They fell down and assumed their natural forms as Vidyajharas. V. seiezed them by their neck. and bumped their heads against each other. One of them fell down unconscious. The other one begged for his life. V. showed mercy and pardoned them (pp. 186-187).
They revealed that they were sent by Vāyuratha to kill v. but the latter with his super buman strength had overpowered them. They delcared their allegience to V. One of the Vidhyādharas informed V. about the forthcoming Svayamvara of Kanakavati, the extraordinary beautiful daughter of the Vidyadhara king Haricandra ruling at Pedhālapura. He promised v. to influence Kanakavati's mind in such a way that she would chose V. in the Svayamvara. Thereafter the Vidyādbaras left that place.