Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s2.5

c20.s2.5

Like Bharata, Sagara also is said to have set out on his conquests and being attended by the fourteen jewels, became the lord of six divisions of Bharaha. He was married and his queens are said to have given birth to a large number of sons. Once with the permission of Sagara, Janhukumāra, the eldest son with his younger brothers, set out on the journey of the earth, and in course of time, reached the mountain Atthāvaya. Here they saw the shrine erected by lord Bharata and decided to dig up a moat around the mountain for the protection of the shrine. They took the 'staff' jewel and began to dig up the earth. At this time the homes of the Nāgas were split open and the Nāgas being terrified, approached their king Jalanappaha, who was enraged and hurried away to Sagara's sons. But Janhu pacified him saying that they had no intention of giving them trouble and they were digging up a moat for the protection of the shrine. The moat was ready, but it would not look proper without water. So Janhukumāra took the 'staff' jewel again and splitting the Ganges, brought her water into the moat. The water reached the homes of the Nāgas and Jalanappaha was seized with wrath again and he dispatched poison-eyed, big-hooded serpents to the sons of Sagara, who burnt them to ashes immediately.