Udayan And Vasavadatta Diwakar Chitrakatha 039

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Udayan and Vasavadatta Diwakar Chitrakatha 039":

This picture story, based on the Jain version of the Udayan and Vasavadatta legend, aims to illustrate the Jain principle that spite cannot be tamed by spite, and true peace comes from love, goodwill, and humbleness.

The narrative begins by highlighting a long-standing animosity between the kingdoms of Kaushambi and Avanti. Initially, King Shatanik of Kaushambi and King Chandapradyot of Avanti were related through marriage (their wives were sisters). However, Chandapradyot's territorial ambitions and carnal desires led him to seek the destruction of Kaushambi. It was Queen Mrigavati of Kaushambi, through her wisdom, serenity, and love, who initially managed to temper Chandapradyot's attitude.

Later, during the reign of Prince Udayan, Chandapradyot once again harbored intentions of destroying Kaushambi. However, the story posits that the deep-seated hatred between the two kingdoms was ultimately dissolved by the "stream of love created by Udayan and Vasavadatta."

The story then recounts specific events:

• Chandapradyot's Initial Desire: Chandapradyot sees a portrait of Queen Mrigavati and is so captivated by her beauty that he demands her from King Shatanik as a "gift." Shatanik, angered by this audacious demand, has Chandapradyot's emissary thrashed and expelled.
• War and Mrigavati's Strategy: Enraged, Chandapradyot attacks Kaushambi. A fierce battle ensues, resulting in the death of King Shatanik and many soldiers. Faced with defeat, Queen Mrigavati, recognizing the need for both bravery and expediency in politics, devises a plan. She sends a messenger to Chandapradyot, conveying that Kaushambi, now without a king and with Prince Udayan being a child, seeks his protection. Chandapradyot, pleased by this apparent submission, halts the attack and offers protection, desiring only Mrigavati.
• The Deception and Rebuilding: Mrigavati, in a strategic move, agrees to a future union but insists that Chandapradyot rebuild and fortify Kaushambi to ensure its security, stating that she is still grieving the loss of her husband. Chandapradyot, eager to win her over, uses his own army and resources to make Kaushambi's fort impregnable.
• Mrigavati's Declaration of Honor: Once the fort is rebuilt, Mrigavati sends a defiant message to Chandapradyot, comparing herself to a lioness that cannot live with a vulture and affirming a Kshatriya woman's commitment to protecting her chastity. She makes it clear she will uphold her honor.
• Chandapradyot's Rage and Bhagavan Mahavir's Intervention: Chandapradyot feels cheated and orders another attack. However, divine drums announce the imminent arrival of Bhagavan Mahavir to Kaushambi. Chandapradyot's army, using their own formidable defenses against them, is unable to breach the fort. Defeated, Chandapradyot's army camps outside. The next morning, Queen Mrigavati, with a white flag and accompanied by women, proceeds to Bhagavan Mahavir's Samavasaran (religious assembly). Chandapradyot, witnessing this, is rendered helpless.
• Bhagavan Mahavir's Sermon and Mrigavati's Renunciation: Both Chandapradyot and Mrigavati attend Bhagavan Mahavir's sermon. After the discourse, Mrigavati requests permission to be initiated as an ascetic, which Chandapradyot grants. He also entrusts the protection of the young Prince Udayan and the kingdom to Chandapradyot. Chandapradyot, filled with shame, accepts responsibility and allows Mrigavati to be initiated. Other queens, including Vasavadatta's mother, Angaravati, also join the ascetic order. Chandapradyot then crowns Udayan as the king of Kaushambi.

The story then shifts to Ujjayini, twelve years later:

• Vasavadatta's Birthday and Desire: Princess Vasavadatta, now sixteen, wishes to learn the Gandharva arts, particularly the Veena. She hears of King Udayan of Vatsa (Kaushambi) as the greatest Veena player. Her father, Chandapradyot, agrees to arrange for Udayan to teach her.
• Chandapradyot's Deception: Despite Udayan being considered a relative, Chandapradyot is wary and fears Udayan might refuse. He devises a cunning plan. First, he informs Vasavadatta that Udayan is a leper with a disfigured neck and that a curtain will be placed between them during lessons to prevent contamination and hesitation. Secondly, he commissions the creation of a mechanized white elephant.
• Udayan's Capture and the Plan: Chandapradyot's ministers learn of Udayan's refusal to come to Avanti and present their plan for a mechanized elephant to abduct him. Meanwhile, in Kaushambi, aborigines report a destructive white elephant. Udayan, taking his Veena, vows to capture it and bring it to Avanti. He encounters the mechanized elephant, but as he plays his Veena, soldiers emerge from within, revealing the deception. Udayan is captured and brought to Chandapradyot.
• The "Lesson" and Growing Affection: Chandapradyot explains his predicament: Vasavadatta is stubborn and wants to learn Veena from Udayan. Udayan agrees to teach her, despite Chandapradyot's fabricated story about his leprosy and Vasavadatta's supposed blindness in one eye. During their lessons, Udayan discovers the "one-eyed" description is a lie and is stunned by Vasavadatta's beauty. Vasavadatta, in turn, is charmed by Udayan and is angered by his (based on misinformation) insults. Their attraction grows.
• The Escape Plan: Udayan, realizing his father would prevent their meetings, asks Vasavadatta to arrange for a fast she-elephant for their escape.
• Vasantak's Role and Yogandharayan's Strategy: Udayan's friend Vasantak arrives with news that Udayan's prime minister, Yogandharayan, is planning his release. Udayan informs Vasantak that Vasavadatta will accompany him to Kaushambi and instructs him to inform the prime minister. Yogandharayan devises a plan to disguise himself as a madman to create a distraction and abduct Vasavadatta openly.
• The Escape: The story depicts Udayan and Vasavadatta preparing to leave. They use a fast she-elephant for their escape. To slow down their pursuers (soldiers riding the mad elephant Analgiri), Udayan throws pitchers filled with she-elephant urine onto the path, which excites Analgiri and causes it to stop and search. The she-elephant eventually collapses from exhaustion upon reaching Kaushambi.
• Chandapradyot's Acceptance: Upon learning of the escape and the deception, Chandapradyot is furious and prepares to attack Kaushambi. However, his ministers and the state priest persuade him to accept the situation, highlighting Udayan's bravery and talent and the happiness of his daughter. Chandapradyot calms down and decides to send gifts for the couple.
• Union and Spiritual Path: Udayan and Vasavadatta's wedding preparations begin. The state priest arrives from Ujjayini with gifts. They later pay homage to Bhagavan Mahavir and learn that Udayan's mother, Mahasati Mrigavati, has become omniscient. Udayan and Vasavadatta visit her and other ascetics, receiving religious teachings and dedicating their lives to the Jain path, thus making their lives meritorious.

The narrative concludes by reiterating the core Jain message about overcoming animosity through love and the importance of righteous conduct.