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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s20.t1: Udayana and Pajjoya

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s20.t1

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Udayana and Pajjoya

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It is said that when Sayānīya died of dysentery, Udayana was very young and so the responsibility of governing the kingdom fell on the shoulders of queen Migāvatī. At this time king Pajjoya repeated his old demand¹⁴⁰ and asked Migāvatī to marry him. But the latter tactfully requested him to defer her decision till her son grew old enough to govern the kingdom independently, and suggested to Pajjoya to make the city stronger in the meantime by means of fortification and storing grains, etc. Pajjoya returned to Ujjenī. In course of time, Lord Mahāvīra reached Kosambī and Migāvatī went to pay reverence to the Teacher. She wanted to join his order and so she asked Pajjoya for permission which the latter could not refuse in the presence of an assembly where Mahāvīra also was present. Migāvatī entrusted Udayana to the care of Pajjoya and along with eight queens of Pajjoya, namely, Angāravatī, etc. joined the ascetic order under Mahāvīra.¹⁴¹

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¹⁴⁰ See Pajjoya

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¹⁴¹ Ava. Cū p 91 f

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It is said that when Abhaya was residing in the court of Pajjoya as a minister, the king's elephant Nalagiri got loose and no one could approach him. Abhaya suggested the name of Udayana of Kosambī who was a very good musician, and said that he could bring the elephant under control by his music. Knowing that Udayana was fond of elephants, Pajjoya sent a mechanical elephant, to a forest near Kosambī carrying men inside. As soon as Udayana saw this elephant, he began to sing, and was caught hold of by the king's soldiers. Udayana was brought to Ujjenī where he was asked by Pajjoya to teach music to his daughter, Vāsavadattā¹⁴². But Udayana was warned not to look at her as she was one-eyed, and would be ashamed if he did so. Vāsavadattā also was told that her teacher was a leper and therefore would teach her from behind the curtain. Vāsavadattā was attracted by her teacher's voice and looked for an opportunity to have a look at him. One day, she sang badly, when the teacher exclaimed angrily "Be hanged, one-eyed person." She retorted "You do not know yourself, oh! leper." He knew that she was no more blind than he was a leper. He drew away the curtain and both fell in love with each other.

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¹⁴² Vāsavadattā was born of Angāravatī (Ava Cū II, p 161). It is also corroborated by Pratijñāyaugandharāyaṇa of Bhāsa and the Kathāsarutsāgara; Pradyota, Udayana and Srenika—A Jain legend by Gune, A B O I, 1920-21

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One day Nalagiri got loose and Udayana was asked to tame it. Udayana proposed that he and the princess would sing riding on the she-elephant, Bhadravatī.¹⁴³ The elephant was caught, but Udayana and Vāsavadattā eloped.

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¹⁴³ In Buddhist literature besides the she-elephant Bhardavatī, and Kāka, a slave, Pajjoya is said to have had three other fleet-footed conveyances two mares, Celakanni and Muñjakesi and an elephant Nalagiri. About the she-elephant Baddavatī, it is said that she could travel fifteen leagues in a day. Udena made use of her in his elopement with Vāsavadattā. At first the king paid her great honour, but when she grew old she was neglected, Dhammapada A. I, p. 196 f.

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According to another tradition, however when the elephant was brought under control, king Pajjoya went to his pleasure-garden. This opportunity was seized by Jogandharāyana, Udayana's minister, who had come to Ujjenī with the vow of carrying away the princess for king Udayana. He filled four jars with the urine¹⁴⁴ and together with Kañcanamālā, the maid-servant of Pajjoya. Vasanta, the elephant-driver, Ghosavantī, the vīṇā, Udayana and Vāsavadattā ran away from Ujjenī riding on the she-elephant, Bhadravatī. King Pajjoya ordered his servants to chase them on Nalagiri. But when Nalagiri got near them one jar of urine was smashed near the approaching elephant, who was held up. In the meantime they travelled twenty five yojanas. When Nalagiri approached, again the same trick was played. By smashing three jars, Udayana and his party travelled seventy five yojanas and reached the city of Kosambi.¹⁴⁵

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¹⁴⁴ According to Buddhists, Udayana took bags of gold and silver coin and when pursued, opened first a sack of gold and then one of silver. See for the story Dhammapada A I, pp 191 ff. For the full account, see Law's Some Ancient Indian Kings, Buddhistic Studies, pp 214 ff.

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¹⁴⁵ Āva. Cū. II, p 160. ff, for other traditions, see Svapnavāsavadattā, Mātanga Jātaka, Kathāsaritsāgara, P. H. A. I p 164 f, I H Q, 1930, pp 676-700.

Cites (4)