Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

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

Page 79

Vasudevahindi : Majjhima-khanda
Now VHM opens with the Prabhāvati Lambha, which is remarkably extensive-covering seventythree pages of the printed text. The obvious problem is : Why did Dharmasena include in his work the story of Prabhāvati, when already it was possibly narrated not in one but two Lambhas by Sanghadāsa: partly in the nineteenth or the twentieth Lambha and partly in the twenty-second Lambha ? A possible answer that suggests itself is that the two Lambhas were already missing in the codex known to Dharmasena, and so he started his work with the story of Prabhāvati. For this he utilized the versions available to him in other sources. That story certainly figured in the BK versions that served as sources for KSS and BKM. But its sequel conflicted with the sequel we find in the version that served as basis for the account in JHP, TSP and the Ketumati Lambha of VH.
According to the latter sources, V. defeated Mānasavega for which Angāravati helped him with the gift of a divine bow and a pair of quivers, and Prabhāvat helped him by bestowing upon him the Prajña. pti Vidyä. V. bound Månasavega and delivered him to Somasri. At Angāravati's request he was set free after some blood-Iciting to fulfil Somas'ri's vow. He became V.'s loyal adherent and carried V. and Somasri to Mahapura in his aerial car. 2
This sequel of the episode differs from what we find in the VHM., KSS and BKM. versions. According to VHM when the fighting ensued between the Vidyādharas on both the sides, Dharana, the king of the Nägas, broke out of his image that was placed in the court-hall. Mānasavega and others were terrified. The deity took hold of V. and flying in the air deposited him on a peak of the Little Mimavat mountain. Actually though it was Prabhāvati who had assumed the form of Dharana and whisked away V. The same account with slight variations we find in KSS, which has God Siva instead of Dharana and of course Naravāhana for V.
It seems that Dharmasena, finding two different versions of the story in his sources, tried to accomodate both of them by splitting Prabhavati into two. The Prabhāvati who acted as Somasri's messenger and rescued V during the critical situation introduces herself to V. as the daughter
2. Compare JVH. pp. 132-133; further for Jain's view of the two versions of the Prabhāvats story see pp. 130 ff. In note 18 on p. 100 Jain has noted the fact of VHM mentioning two Prabhāvatis. But its implications are not grasped by him.