Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s2.16

c20.s2.16

Then there were nine *Baladevas*,²⁰ nine *Vāsudevas*²¹ and *Prativāsudevas*,²² the earliest reference to whom is made in *Āvasyaka Bhāsya*.²³ It is mentioned that the *Baladevas* and the *Vāsudevas* were always born as brothers and the latter were the rivals of the *Prativāsudevas*.²⁴ For example, Rāma and Laksamana the two brothers, were born as *Baladeva* and *Vāsudeva* respectively; the latter slew Rāvana, the *Prativāsudeva*. Similarly, Rāma Baladeva and Krsna were born as the last *Baladeva* and *Vāsudeva* respectively; the latter slew Jarāsandha, the last *Prativāsudeva*.²⁵