Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s2.1

c20.s2.1

Then we come to the *Cakravartins* or universal monarchs, the earliest reference to whom is made in the *Samavāyāṅga*¹³ Bharata was the first universal monarch and he was the son of Usabha by Summaṅgalā. Bharata is said to have started on his conquests with his ‘cakra’ jewel and conquered the holy places such as Magadha in the east of Jambudvīpa, Varadāma in the south, and Pabhāsa in the west, and the goddess Sindhu, the Veyaddha and Timisaguhā. Then he crossed the great river Sindhu by the ‘camma’ jewel and conquered the countries of Simhala, Babbara, Aṅga, Cilāya, Javanadīva Ārabaka, Romaka Alasanda, the mlecchas known as Pikkhura, Kālamuha and Jonaka, the mlecchas residing on the southern direction of the Veyaddha, and the region from south-west direction up to the Sindhusāgara, and finally the most beautiful land of Kaccha. Then Bharata is said to have marched through the Timisaguhā and ordered his general to open its southern gate. Then Bharata is stated to have crossed the rivers named Ummaggajalā and Nimaggajalā and defeated the Cilāyas known as Āvāda, who were dwelling in the northern half of Bharaha and were rich, arrogant, powerful, fiery, like demons on earth. Then he conquered Culla Himavanta and proceeded to Usabhakūda mountain where with his ‘lāgaṇi’ jewel Bharata wrote down his name stating that he was the first universal monarch. Then he proceeded to the north of the Veyaddha mountain where Nami and Vinami, the Vidhyādhara kings, offered him the ‘woman’ jewel, *viz.*, Subhaddā. Then Bharata conquered the river Gaṅgā and proceeded to the cave of Khaṇḍappavāya situated on the western bank of the river Gaṅgā, and ordered his general to open the northern gate of the cave. Here Bharata found out the nine treasures.