Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c29.372

v2.c29.372

But no weapon could injure Bimbisāra¹¹; it was therefore decided that he should be starved to death, and with this end in view he was imprisoned in a hot-house (*tapanageha*) with orders that none but the mother of Ajātasattu should visit him. On her visits she took with her a golden vessel filled with food which she concealed in her clothes. When this was discovered she took food in her head-dress (*moḷi*), and, later, she was obliged to take what food she could conceal in her footgear. But all these ways were discovered, and then the queen visited Bimbisāra after having bathed in scented water and smeared her person with *catumadhura* (the four kinds of sweets). The king licked her person and that was his only sustenance. In the end the visits of the queen were forbidden; but the king continued to live by walking about his cell meditating. Ajātasattu, hearing of this, sent barbers to cut open his feet, fill the wounds with salt and vinegar, and burn them with coals. It is said that when the barbers appeared Bimbisāra thought his son had relented and had sent them to shave him and cut his hair. But on learning their real purpose, he showed not the least resentment and let them do their work, much against their will. (In a previous birth he had walked about in the courtyard of a cetiya with shoes on, hence this punishment!) Soon after, Bimbisāra died, and was reborn in the Cātummahārājika-world as a yakkha named Janavasabha, in the retinue of Vessavaṇa. The Janavasabha Sutta records an account of a visit paid by Janavasabha to the Buddha some time after.