Difference between revisions of "Bimbisara"
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− | [[Bimbisara]] [ | + | [[Bimbisara]] [[婆娑羅王]] (Skt, [[Pali]]; Jpn Bimbashara-o) was the [[king]] of [[Magadha]] with the capital at [[Rajgir]]. |
− | + | He was the greatest {{Wiki|patron}} of [[Gotama]] [[Buddha]]. | |
− | + | He became the [[king]] at the age of fifteen and reigned for fifty-two years until he abdicated the [[throne]] in favour of his son [[Ajatasattu]] ([[Sanskritised]]: [[Ajatashatru]]). | |
− | + | His wife was a {{Wiki|princess}} of [[Kosala]], a sister of the [[king]] [[Pasenadi]], who gave [[birth]] to [[Ajatasattu]]. | |
− | Nonetheless, [[Bimbisara]] survived by meditating-while-walking. When the son learnt that his father was not to [[die]] easily he sent some barbers inside the {{Wiki|prison}}. [[Bimbisara]] [[Thought]] that his son had relented and had, at last, realised his [[Guilt]]; so, he had sent the barbers to shave his beard and cut his [[Hair]] to help him lead the [[Life]] of a [[Monk]]. But no! Those barbers were sent to cut open his feet and to fill the wounds with [[salt]] and vinegar and then to burn the wounds with coal. | + | He had other wives and co-wives, viz., [[Khema]], Silava and [[Jayasena]]. |
+ | |||
+ | He also had a son by the famous {{Wiki|courtesan}} [[Ambapali]], who was given the [[name]] [[Vimala]] [[Kondanna]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | According to the [[Pabbaja Sutta]] of the [[Sutta Nipata Atthakatha]] it is stated that he fist saw the [[Ascetic]] [[Gotama]] through his palace window under the {{Wiki|Pandava}} [[Pabbata]] and followed him and invited him to visit his court. | ||
+ | |||
+ | But when [[Gotama]] turned down the invitation he wished him [[luck]] in his quest and re-extended the invitation to visit [[Rajgir]] no sooner than he achieved [[Enlightenment]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was in [[fulfilment]] of that promise that The [[Buddha]] had visited [[Rajgir]] after converting the Tebhatika [[Jatila]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | When The [[Buddha]] and his [[Monks]] visited [[Rajgir]] as {{Wiki|royal}} guests and finished the {{Wiki|royal}} meals, [[Bimbisara]] then poured some [[water]] from a golden jar on The [[Buddha]]’s hands to express the solemnity of his pledge to donate [[Veluvana]] Park to him and his [[Monks]]. Furthermore, [[Bimbisara]] continued to patronise the growth of [[Buddhism]] for another thirty-seven years. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Bimbisara’s]] end was extremely tragic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Despite the warnings given by the soothsayers that his son [[Ajatasattu’s]] [[birth]] was {{Wiki|inauspicious}} for him, yet he reared him with great care and {{Wiki|affection}}. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When [[Ajatasattu]] came of age he plotted to kill his [[own]] father under the [[influence]] of [[Devadatta]], who loathed the king’s {{Wiki|patronage}} to The [[Buddha]], which had further undermined his [[recognition]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When the plot was discovered; and the father read the intense [[urge]] of his son to become the {{Wiki|monarch}} he abdicated the [[throne]] in his favour. | ||
+ | |||
+ | But when instigated again by [[Devadatta]] the new {{Wiki|monarch}} got him arrested. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | As [[Bimbisara]] was not supposed to [[die]] except by starvation, so he was imprisoned in a heated {{Wiki|prison}} house, where he was made to starve. | ||
+ | |||
+ | No visitor was allowed to enter there except for [[Khema]], his mother. | ||
+ | |||
+ | First, she carried [[Food]] in a golden [[bowl]] concealed in her dress. When that was discovered she carried [[Food]] concealed in her foot-gear. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When that, too, was discovered she carried [[Food]] concealed in her head-dress (moli). | ||
+ | |||
+ | When all these were discovered then the {{Wiki|queen}} mother visited the old man after bathing in scented [[water]] and smearing [[Honey]] in her [[Body]] for the old [[king]] to lick and survive. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When this, too, was detected her entry was finally banned. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Nonetheless, [[Bimbisara]] survived by meditating-while-walking. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When the son learnt that his father was not to [[die]] easily he sent some barbers inside the {{Wiki|prison}}. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Bimbisara]] [[Thought]] that his son had relented and had, at last, realised his [[Guilt]]; so, he had sent the barbers to shave his beard and cut his [[Hair]] to help him lead the [[Life]] of a [[Monk]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | But no! Those barbers were sent to cut open his feet and to fill the wounds with [[salt]] and vinegar and then to burn the wounds with coal. | ||
[[Thus]] prevented from meditating-while-walking he met his tragic end. | [[Thus]] prevented from meditating-while-walking he met his tragic end. |
Revision as of 03:46, 30 September 2015
Bimbisara 婆娑羅王 (Skt, Pali; Jpn Bimbashara-o) was the king of Magadha with the capital at Rajgir.
He was the greatest patron of Gotama Buddha.
He became the king at the age of fifteen and reigned for fifty-two years until he abdicated the throne in favour of his son Ajatasattu (Sanskritised: Ajatashatru).
His wife was a princess of Kosala, a sister of the king Pasenadi, who gave birth to Ajatasattu.
He had other wives and co-wives, viz., Khema, Silava and Jayasena.
He also had a son by the famous courtesan Ambapali, who was given the name Vimala Kondanna.
According to the Pabbaja Sutta of the Sutta Nipata Atthakatha it is stated that he fist saw the Ascetic Gotama through his palace window under the Pandava Pabbata and followed him and invited him to visit his court.
But when Gotama turned down the invitation he wished him luck in his quest and re-extended the invitation to visit Rajgir no sooner than he achieved Enlightenment.
It was in fulfilment of that promise that The Buddha had visited Rajgir after converting the Tebhatika Jatila.
When The Buddha and his Monks visited Rajgir as royal guests and finished the royal meals, Bimbisara then poured some water from a golden jar on The Buddha’s hands to express the solemnity of his pledge to donate Veluvana Park to him and his Monks. Furthermore, Bimbisara continued to patronise the growth of Buddhism for another thirty-seven years.
Bimbisara’s end was extremely tragic.
Despite the warnings given by the soothsayers that his son Ajatasattu’s birth was inauspicious for him, yet he reared him with great care and affection.
When Ajatasattu came of age he plotted to kill his own father under the influence of Devadatta, who loathed the king’s patronage to The Buddha, which had further undermined his recognition.
When the plot was discovered; and the father read the intense urge of his son to become the monarch he abdicated the throne in his favour.
But when instigated again by Devadatta the new monarch got him arrested.
As Bimbisara was not supposed to die except by starvation, so he was imprisoned in a heated prison house, where he was made to starve.
No visitor was allowed to enter there except for Khema, his mother.
First, she carried Food in a golden bowl concealed in her dress. When that was discovered she carried Food concealed in her foot-gear.
When that, too, was discovered she carried Food concealed in her head-dress (moli).
When all these were discovered then the queen mother visited the old man after bathing in scented water and smearing Honey in her Body for the old king to lick and survive.
When this, too, was detected her entry was finally banned.
Nonetheless, Bimbisara survived by meditating-while-walking.
When the son learnt that his father was not to die easily he sent some barbers inside the prison.
Bimbisara Thought that his son had relented and had, at last, realised his Guilt; so, he had sent the barbers to shave his beard and cut his Hair to help him lead the Life of a Monk.
But no! Those barbers were sent to cut open his feet and to fill the wounds with salt and vinegar and then to burn the wounds with coal.
Thus prevented from meditating-while-walking he met his tragic end.
See Dhammapada Atthakatha i.233.