Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c29.101

v2.c29.101

Bandhula.—Son of a chieftain of the Mallas in Kusinārā. He studied at Takkasilā with Mahāli and Pasenadi. On his return home, he wished to give an exhibition of his skill, and the princely families of the Mallas bound sticks of bamboo in bundles of sixty, inserting a strip of iron in each bundle; they then suspended the bundles in the air and challenged Bandhula to cut them down. He leapt up in the air and smote them with his sword, but on discovering the treachery of his kinsmen, he threatened to kill them all; his parents, however, dissuaded him, and he went to live in Sāvatthi, where Pasenadi appointed him Senāpati. Bandhula's wife was Mallikā (known as Bandhula-Mallikā in order to distinguish her from the wife of Pasenadi). As she bore no children, Bandhula wished to send her back to her people; but when she went to bid farewell to the Buddha before her departure, he asked her to return to her husband. He accepted her, thereby showing his faith in the Buddha. Soon after she conceived a child, and her pregnancy-longing was to enter the lotus tank used by the princes of Vesālī on their coronation and to drink its water. Bandhula took her to Vesālī, drove away the strong guards who were posted at the lotus tank, and let Mallikā enjoy it to her heart’s content. When the Licchavi princes heard of this, they were greatly enraged and pursued Bandhula’s chariot, in spite of the warning of Mahāli. When the chariots of the Licchavis came into line, Bandhula, in order to frighten them, twanged his bow; but as they still pursued him, he shot a single arrow, which pierced each of the five hundred Licchavis through his girdle without their being aware of the wound. Bandhula told them of their plight; but they refused to believe him until they loosed the girdle of the foremost and he fell down dead. Thereupon they returned to their homes, bade farewell to their families, and fell dead on the moment of loosening their armour.