Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s22: Udāyi

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s22

Language: English

Udāyi

c20.s22.1

When Kūṇika died, his son Udāyi ascended the throne of Campā. But on account of his father’s death he would not like to stay in Campā and so he founded a new capital on the bank of the Ganges which came to be known as Pāṭaliputra.¹⁵⁰ Here he is said to have built a Jain temple.

c20.s22.2

¹⁵⁰ According to the Vāyu Purāṇa Udāyi built the city of Kusumapura in the fourth year of his reign (P. A. I, p 76).

c20.s22.3

It is said that once a vassal king of Udāyi committed some offence as a result of which he was dethroned. At this the son of this king made up his mind to take revenge on Udāyi. He went to Ujjenī and related the story of his distress to the king of Ujjenī, who promised to assist him in his errand. Later, the disguised prince went to Pāṭaliputra and joined the ascetic order as a novice. It is said that once, together with other monks, he went to the king’s palace for religious discourses, and at night when all were asleep, he took a pair of iron scissors (*kaṅkaṇakaṭṭikā*), and hit the king at his head. It is said that in order to save religion from disgrace, king Udāyi cut off his head and died.¹

Linked texts (1)

Vāyupurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit