Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s4.4

c20.s4.4

It is mentioned that after Abhaya renounced the world, king Seniya gave a pair of divine garments (devadūsajugala) to Nandā, and his famous elephant, Seyanaga, and a huge necklace of eighteen strings to his twin sons, Halla and Vihalla It is said that the value of the elephant and the necklace was as much as the whole kingdom of the king. It is stated that Kūniya, the eldest son of Seniya, after usurping his father's throne, at the instigation of his wife, Paumāvaī, demanded from his younger brothers the return of both gifts On this Halla and Vihalla demanded half of the kingdom, which was refused to them Thereupon Halla and Vihalla fled away to their grand-father, Cetaka, in Vesālī. Kūnika sent an embassy to Cetaka asking him to hand over his younger brothers with the gifts, but the latter refused to do so, saying that if Kūnika was prepared to give half of his kingdom, then only some settlement could be made Thus having failed peacefully to obtain the extradition of the fugitives, Kūnika waged war against his grand-father, Cetaka.