Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s21.5

v2.c8.s21.5

² The *Jātaka* (546) may be summarized thus: In Indraprastha, the capital of the Kuru kingdom, there once ruled a rājā named Dhanañjaya. He had a sagacious minister called Vidhurapaṇḍita, who fascinated all the kings of Jambudvīpa by his eloquence, and taught the Law with a Buddha's wisdom. Dhanañjaya, although famed for his skill in the game of dice, was a pious king, and gave alms and kept the moral law and observed the fast. In those days, there were three other kings who were equally pious, and the question arose as to who among them was most virtuous. They approached Vidhurapaṇḍita for the settlement of the problem, and stated their respective virtues in this manner: "The Nāga king preaches forbearance, the Suparṇa king gentleness, the king of the Gandharvas abstinence from carnal lust, and the king of the Kurus freedom from all hindrances to religious perfection." The minister on hearing that, observed that the four virtues mentioned by them were like the spokes of a wheel and that he alone, who was endowed with these four virtues, was a perfect ascetic. This reply of Vidhurapaṇḍita satisfied all four kings, and each of them presented him with a precious gift; the gift of the Nāga king, Varuṇa, being a jewelled ornament off his own neck. When Varuṇa returned to the Nāga world, his queen Vimalā asked him where the jewel was, and he described to her the skill of Vidhurapaṇḍita in discoursing on the Law. The queen, on hearing the pre-eminence of the minister, grew eager to listen to his discourse, and feigning illness told her husband she would die if he would not secure her the heart of Vidhurapaṇḍita. Varuṇa had a most beautiful daughter, Irandatī, who noticing trouble on the countenance of her father, inquired from him the cause of it. The Nāga king told her the desire of her mother, and asked her to seek a husband who could bring Vidhurapaṇḍita's heart. She attired herself in the choicest manner, and spreading a couch of flowers she performed a dance, and sang a most sweet song. At that time the Yaksha general, Pūrṇaka, was riding in heaven on his magic horse, and when he heard the sweet song of Irandatī, he fell in love with her and promised to fetch her the heart of Vidhurapaṇḍita. Afterwards he took Irandatī to the Nāga king and asked for her as his wife. The Nāga king consulted his kinsmen and wife, and ultimately fixed the minister's heart as the necessary condition for the marriage. The gallant Yaksha readily agreed to that condition, and as he had heard of King Dhanañjaya's fondness for the game of dice, he thought he might be able to entice the king to play with him. As Pūrṇaka knew that the Kuru king would not play for a small wager, he secured a jewel worthy only of a universal king, and showing its magical qualities, persuaded Dhanañjaya to play with him. Dhanañjaya lost the game, and Pūrṇaka won from him Vidhurapaṇḍita as a wager. Afterwards Pūrṇaka flew with the minister on his magic horse, and on the way to the Nāga world made several attempts to kill Vidhurapaṇḍita in order to secure his heart. The Yaksha general failed in all his attempts. At last the minister himself pointed out how he could be killed, but when he discoursed on the duties of good men the Yaksha was highly pleased, and brought the minister alive to the Nāga world. Vidhura-