Uttaradhyayana Sutra: Twenty-Second Lecture: Rathanēmi

Published: 25.09.2015

Twenty-Second Lecture: Rathanēmi

In the town of Śauryapura[1] there was a powerful king, Vasudēva by name, who possessed the characteristic marks of a king. (1)

He had two wives, Rōhiṇī and Dēvakī; each of them had a beloved son, Rāma and Kēśava. (2)

In the town of Śauryapura there was (another) powerful king, Samudravijaya by name, who possessed the characteristic marks of a king. (3)

His wife was Śivā by name; and her famous son was the venerable Ariṣṭanēmi, the saviour of the world and the lord of ascetics. (4)

This Ariṣṭanēmi, who was gifted with an excellent voice and possessed the thousand and eight lucky marks of the body, was a Gautama, and his skin was black. (5)

His body was strong like that of a bull, and hard like steel; he was well proportioned, and had a belly like that of a fish.

Kēśava asked the girl Rājīmatī[2] in marriage for him. (6)

Now this daughter of an excellent king[3] was virtuous and well looking; she possessed all lucky marks of the body, and shone forth like the lightning Saudāmanī. (7)

Her father said to the powerful Vāsudēva: "Let the prince come here that I may give him my daughter." (8)

He had taken a bath containing all (lucky) herbs, and had performed the customary ceremonies; he wore a suit of heavenly clothes and was decked out with ornaments. (9)

Riding on the best mast elephant[4] of Vāsudēva he looked beautiful, like a jewel worn on the head. (10)

He sat under a raised umbrella, fanned by two cowries, and he was surrounded on all sides by a host of Daśārhas[5] and by a complete army drawn up in rank and file, while the heavenly sound of musical instruments reached the sky. (11, 12)

With such pomp and splendour the hero of the Vṛṣṇis started from his own palace. (13)

On his way he saw animals, kept in cages and enclosures, overcome by fear and looking miserable. (14)

Seeing them on the point of being killed for the sake of their flesh, and to be eaten afterwards, the great sage spoke to his charioteer[6] thus: (15)

"Why are[7] all these animals, which desire to be happy, kept in cages and enclosures?" (16)

Then the charioteer answered: "Lucky are these animals because at thy wedding they will furnish food for many people." (17)

Having heard these words, which announced the slaughter of many animals, the great sage, full of compassion and kindness to living beings, meditated thus: (18)

"If for my sake many living beings are killed, I shall not obtain happiness in the next world." (19)

Then the famous man presented the charioteer with his pair of earrings, his neck-chain, and all his ornaments. (20)

When he had formed his resolution, the gods descended (from heaven), according to the established custom, to celebrate, with great pomp together with their retinue, the event of his renunciation. (21)

Surrounded by gods and men, and sitting on an excellent palankin, the Venerable One left Dvārakā and ascended mount Raivataka.[8] (22)

On arriving at the park he descended from his excellent palankin, surrounded by a crowd of thousands, and then his renunciation took place, while the moon was in conjunction with Chitrā.[9] (23)

Then he himself plucked out his delightfully-perfumed, soft, and curled hair in five handfuls. (24)

And Vāsudēva said to that subdue of the senses, who had plucked out his hair: "O lord of ascetics, may you soon obtain what you wish and desire. (25)

"Increase in knowledge, faith, and right conduct, in forbearance and perfection!" (26)

In this manner Rāma and Kēsava, the Daśārhas, and many people paid homage to Ariṣṭanēmi and then returned to the town of Dvārakā. (27)

When the daughter of the king heard of the ordination of the Jina, laughter and gaiety forsook her, and she was overwhelmed with affliction.[10] (28)

Rājīmatī thought: "Shame upon my life, that I have been forsaken by him! it is better I should turn nun." (29)

Firm and decided she cut off her tresses which were black like bees and dressed with a brush and comb.[11] (30)

And Vāsudēva said to her who had cut off her hair, and subdued her senses: "Lady, cross the dreadful ocean of the Saṃsāra without difficulty!" (31)

When she had entered the order, the virtuous and very learned lady induced there many people, her relations and servants, to enter the order too. (32)

On her way to mount Raivataka it began to rain; her clothes being wet, she entered a cave and waited there in the darkness while it was raining. (33)

She took off her clothes and was naked as she was born, thus she was seen by Rathanēmi,[12] whose (peace of) mind (thereby) disturbed; and afterwards she saw him. (34)

She was frightened when she discovered herself alone with the monk; folding her arms over her breast she sank down trembling. (35)

When the prince, Samudravijaya's son, saw her frightened and trembling, he spoke the following words: (36)

"I am Rathanēmi, O dear, beautiful, sweetly-speaking lady! Do accept me for your lover, O slender one,[13] you shall have no cause to complain. (37)

"Come, let us enjoy pleasures, for it is a rare chance to be born a human being; after we have enjoyed pleasures, we shall enter on the path of the Jinas." (38)

When Rājīmatī perceived that Rathanēmi's strength of will was broken, and temptation had got the better of him, she did not lose her presence of mind and defended her Self on that occasion. (39)

The daughter of the best king, true to self-control and her vows, maintained the honour of her clan and family, and her virtue, and spoke to him: (40)

"If you owned the beauty of Vaiśramaṇa,[14] the pleasing manners of Nalakūbara,[15] if you were like Purandara[16] himself, I should have no desire for you. (41)

"Fie upon you, famous knight, who want to quaff the vomited drink for the sake of this life; it would be better for you to die.[17] (42)

"I am the daughter of the Bhōga-king,[18] and you are an Andhakavṛṣṇi; being born in a noble family let us not become like Gandhana-snakes;[19] firmly practise self-control! (43)

"If you fall in love with every woman you see, you will be without hold like the Haṭha-plant,[20] driven before the wind. (44)

"As a herdsman or a keeper of goods does not own the things (he has the care of), so you will not truly own Śramaṇahood." (45)

Having heard these well-spoken words of the virtuous lady, he returned to the Law like an elephant driven by the hook.[21] (46)

Protected in thoughts, words, and acts, subduing his senses and keeping the vows, he practised true Śramaṇahood throughout life. (47)

After practising severe austerities both of them became Kēvalins, and having completely annihilated their Karman, they reached the highest perfection. (48)

Thus act the enlightened, the wise, the clever ones; they turn from pleasures as did this best of men.[22] (49)

Thus I say.

Footnotes
1:

Jump to occurrence in text

2:

Jump to occurrence in text

3:

Jump to occurrence in text

4:

Jump to occurrence in text

5:

Jump to occurrence in text

6:

Jump to occurrence in text

7:

Jump to occurrence in text

8:

Jump to occurrence in text

9:

Jump to occurrence in text

10:

Jump to occurrence in text

11:

Jump to occurrence in text

12:

Jump to occurrence in text

13:

Jump to occurrence in text

14:

Jump to occurrence in text

15:

Jump to occurrence in text

17:

Jump to occurrence in text

18:

Jump to occurrence in text

19:

Jump to occurrence in text

20:

Jump to occurrence in text

21:

Jump to occurrence in text

22:

Jump to occurrence in text

Sources
Title: Uttarādhyayana Sūtra
Translated: Hermann Jacobi (1895) from Prakrit

Share this page on:
Page glossary
Some texts contain  footnotes  and  glossary  entries. To distinguish between them, the links have different colors.
  1. Apabhraṃśa
  2. Body
  3. Daśavaikālika
  4. Daśavaikālika Sūtra
  5. Fear
  6. Gautama
  7. Girnār
  8. Indra
  9. JAINA
  10. Jaina
  11. Jina
  12. Karman
  13. Kṛṣṇa
  14. Leumann
  15. Prākṛt
  16. Purāṇa
  17. Rāma
  18. Sanskrit
  19. Saṃsāra
  20. Sūtra
Page statistics
This page has been viewed 1176 times.
© 1997-2024 HereNow4U, Version 4.56
Home
About
Contact us
Disclaimer
Social Networking

HN4U Deutsche Version
Today's Counter: