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Vardhaman was playing with children of his age in the Jnatkhand jungle. The game was to race to target tree, climb up, and
come down. The first one to reach the ground was the winner.
Vardhaman ran the race and was first to climb the tree. Just then the boys on the ground, saw a ferocious cobra slithering up
around the trunk of the tree and hissing with its raised hood. The boys started trembling with fear and ran away. From a safe
distance they shouted, “Vardhaman, do not come down. There is a black serpent on the tree-trunk.
Vardhaman, on his way down saw the snake and also heard the call of his friends. He shouted back, “Be quiet, and don’t be
afraid”. He jumped down. The snake followed and hissing it leapt at Vardhaman. With astonishing agility, the prince caught
the snake by its hood and with a jerk threw it away like a piece of rope. (M-9/1)
After this, the boys started playing another game called Tindushak. This game was also a race to a target tree. The winner
was to ride piggyback on the
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losers and return
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to the base. The god who
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had come to test Vardhaman
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also joined the group
in the disguise of a boy. In the game when Vardhaman won, the god got Vardhaman on his back and started back for the
base. On way he transformed himself into a giant. With the prince on his back the god flew in the sky. The boys shouted with
fear. Vardhaman, undaunted, hit the giant with his mighty fist. The god cried with pain and landed back to ground. Vardhaman
jumped from his back. The culprit disappeared and in his place appeared a god, who begged Vardhaman’s pardon. (M-9/2)
Test by Indra in the School
When Vardhaman entered the ninth year of his age, his parents thought that it was time to impart martial and formal education
befitting a Kshatriya boy to him. They decided to send him to school.
When he went to the school he offered his respects to the teacher just like any other ordinary student. In spite of having all
worldly knowledge since his birth, by offering respect to his teacher, Vardhaman honored the age-old traditional ideals. The
teacher gave him the first lesson of the alphabets. Vardhaman listened silently. After sometime the teacher called him and
asked, “Prince! You are just idling, why don’t you repeat the lesson and memorize it?” In reply, Vardhaman replied the full
alphabets. The teacher was surprised.
While he was trying to fathom the surprising capacity of the little boy, an old Brahman, with a Tilak on his forehead, entered the
school. The teacher greeted him and offered a seat. The Brahman asked some complex questions on grammar. The
teacher could not reply and remained silent looking down in disgust. The Brahman smiled and said, “Acharya! Please do not
bother yourself. May be, this new student of yours will solve my problem. If you allow me, I may ask him?”
The teacher consented and the old Brahman put the complex questions before Vardhaman. Little Vardhaman, without
hesitating, gave correct and appropriate answers. The teacher stared dumbfounded at the little boy. The old Brahman smiled
and said, “Acharya! Please don’t fell insulted. You are not aware that the sun of knowledge of this era is present before you
as prince Vardhaman. He is the future Bhagavan Mahavir, the omniscient”.
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It is believed that Indra compiled his question and Vardhaman’s answers into a book named Aindra Vyakaran (the grammar
of the Indra). (M-10)
The Family
Jnat clan to which king Siddharth belonged, was same as the Ikshvaku clan to which belonged Bhagavan Rishabhdev.
Siddharth and Rishabhdev both also belonged to the Kashyap family. It is a matter of pride for the Ikshvaku clan and Kashyap
family that 22 Tirthankars came from the same family.
Devi Trishla was the sister of Chetak, the president of the Vaishali republic. Because of the paternal connection with Videh
area she was also known as Videhdatta (dinna); her third name was Priyakarini. (In figure, top)
Vardhaman’s uncle or king Siddharth’s younger brother was Suparshva. Siddharth’s elder son was Nandivardhan.
Nandivardhan’s wife was Jyeshtha. (In figure, middle)
Vardhaman also had a sister named Sudarshana. When and to whom Sudarshana was married is not mentioned anywhere.
However, her son Jamali was famous figure. (In figure, below-right)
Although surrounded by unlimited wealth and grandeur, prince Vardhaman’s mind and attitude was completely detached and
purified by the five of discipline. It was like a lotus flower in a pond. The power and the glory of the kingdom never attracted
him. Even his marriage to Yashoda, daughter of prince Samarvir, was due to the affectionate persuasion and pressure by and
from his parents. Yashoda gave birth to a daughter, who was named Priyadarshana. (In figure, below-left) Prince Jamali
married Sudarshana. (M-11)
According to Acharang Sutra, three names of Vardhaman became very famous-
Amar Muni - Tirthankar Charitra - Surana # 34
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