Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

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

Page 43

34
Vasudevahindi : Majjhima-khanda
XVI. Winning of Sāgaradattā
(pp. 259-266)
Once V. was called to rescue the royal elephant Jimütavardhana whose leg was seized by a crocodile in the river adjoining the Lakşmiramaņa park. Vasudeva managed to release the elephant from the crocodile's clutches. He mounted the elephant which after running a short distance, flew in the air, transformed himself into the Vidyadhara Nilakan. tha and attacked V., who struck him on the neck. Nilakantha let go V., who fell down in an ocean. Swimming, V. reached the shore, came to a nearby lake and hermitage, where the chief hermit welcomed him, calling out his personal and family names. Shortly two armed and cruel-looking Kirātas arrived there, bound V.'s hands while the hermits looked on, led him away to an island and threw him in a deep, dark well. Shortly after V. fell on the utterly dark bottom, it became lighted and a hoard of goblins attacked him. Enraged, V. snapped his bonds and started raining blows and kicks on the attackers. They dispersed. Then a female dragon appeared and attacked V. As V. struck her on the head, she was transformed into a divine girl, who danced with joy and garlanded V. with a jewelled necklace called Sarvauşadhi. The girl recounted her story to V. as follows:
She was a Yakişiņi named Arcimālini. For a serious lapse on her part she was once cursed by the Yaksa King Manibhadra to become a Räk. sasi. She was destined to be released from her curse when she would be struck by a Great Man on her head in a fight, Coming to know by her clairvoyant power about V.'s arrival in the hermitage, she planned the whole incident, and got her release. The Sarvauşadhi necklace gifted by her to V. was an antidote to all diseases and sorrows. She promised to run to V's help in difficulty. Thereafter she took V. out of the well and disappeared
Then the two Kirāta captors waiting near the well told their story to V. as follows:
They were guards of the well, appointed by the King Mahäsinha, who ruled from Maộivardhana, the Capital of the Kirāta country. It was a well of alchemic fluid, which transformed base metals into gold. Hence
he area was known as 'Suvarnadvipa' (Golden Island). Once Mahāsimha was killed by his minister in a coup. At that time the magic well was occupied by a female dragon who would kill anybody approaching the well. At this juncture, Mahāsimha's daughter Sāgaradattā was kidnapped