The Bodhisattva Doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature c9.44

c9.44

Jīmūtavāhana. The famous story of Jīmūtavāhana is related in the *Kathā-sarit-sāgara* and the *Avadāna-kalpa-latā*, and it is dramatised in Harṣa’s play, “*Nāgānanda*.” 124 Jīmūtavāhana was a prince, who lived in the forest with his aged father. He was married to a princess, named Malayavatī. As he was walking about, he saw on a certain occasion that a boy, named Śaṅkhacūḍa, was followed by an attendant, who carried two red garments. The boy belonged to the Nāga tribe and was chosen as the victim for Garuḍa, who claimed such a bloody sacrifice every day. His mother was weeping and wailing in the neighbourhood. Jīmūtavāhana offered to give his own life and save the unfortunate creature. In spite of the boy’s protests, he donned the red garments and sat on the stone of sacrifice. Garuḍa came, seized him, and began to devour him. Jīmūtavāhana looked happy and contented. Garuḍa was astonished at this spectacle, and soon learned his mistake. He expiated his error by repenting of his cruelty, promising to kill no living beings in future, and restoring all the dead Nāgas to life. In Harṣa’s play, the goddess Gaurī also appears on the scene and Jīmūtavāhana is restored to life.