05/04/2009 14:39The Story of Prince Sudhana and Manohara

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The Story of Prince Sudhana and Manohara - First Gallery, Lower Register

AVADANA/JATAKA

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Sigala Jataka Mati Posaka Jataka Story of King Sivi

Vidhura Jataka Story of King Surupa Story of Bhuridatta

Kaccapavadana Cula Nandiya Jataka

Kancanakkhanda Jataka King Padmaka JatakaStory of Manohara Story of Mandhatar

Samuddavanija Jataka Story of the Sibi King

Story of the Dharma Seeker Story of Sambula

Story of Rudrayana Story of BhallatiyaValahassa Jataka

Story of Maitrakanyaka

"I call to mind my teacher's words: so this was what he meant!

Be careful to do nothing of which you might repent.Whatever a man does,

the same he in himself will find:The good man, good;

and the evil man that evil he has designed.For our deeds are all like seeds,

bringing forth fruit in kind."

The story of Prince Sudhana and the kinnari Manohara appears in the Divyavadana. The rendition of the tale thatappears below is based on the translation by N. J. Krom that appears in Barabudur: An Archaeological Description.

Relief 1. The king and court of the kingdom of North-Pancala.In the land of Pancala there once reigned two kings: one over the North and the other over the South. The northernkingdom enjoyed great prosperity, due in part to the goodness of the king, who ruled his subjects justly. The othercause of the northern kingdom's prosperity was the presence of the naga serpent Janmacitraka whose presence in alake near the capital caused the rains to come on a regular basis.

The condition of the southern kingdom, however, was entirely different indeed. Because the kingdom's monarch wascruel and unjust, none of the area's divine beings troubled themselves over whether or not the rain fell. And somany of the southern kingdom's inhabitants had to abandon their homes and re-settle in the north.

Relief 2. The king of South-Pancala journeys throughout his kingdom.The king of South-Pancala eventually noticed all the deserted villages and neglected temples while he was away fromthe capital on a hunting expedition. When he inquired after the cause of this calamity his ministers begged to beexcused from punishment and then told him the truth: that the king's own cruel and injust behavior was in partresponsible for the kingdom's ruinous state.

After promising to henceforth rule justly, the king sought for a way to bring the rain-causing naga Janmacitraka tothe South. Hearing that the best means to achieve this was through enchantment, the king issued a proclamation thatwhosoever should bring Janmacitraka to South-Pancala would receive a basket of gold. Attracted by the prospect of ahandsome reward, a snake-charmer appeared in court to offer his services. After agreeing to undertake the task, thesnake-charmer set out for the lake in North-Pancala where the naga Janmacitraka resided. After taking a look roundthe lake, the snake-charmer declared that through his power of his enchantment he would be able to capture the nagain seven days.

Relief 3. The enchantment and rescue of the naga Janmacitraka.Meanwhile Janmacitraka became aware of what was going on and believing When the naga Janmacitraka found out whatwas going on he realized that he would be unable to withstand the snake-charmer's speels of enchantment. So hesought the help of a hunter named Halaka, who made his living along the shores of the lake. Halaka and the naga hitupon a plan in which the hunter would hide near the lake and shoot an arrow through the enchanter as soon as thesnake-charmer began to cast his magic spell, but not actually kill him until he had forced the snake charmer todestroy the enchantment. And this was exactly the way it happened.

Relief 4. Halaka is entertained by the nagas.Upon the death of the snake-charmer, Janmacitrak rose up out of the lake, embraced his rescuer and invited him tovisit his naga parents, who would undoubtedly receive Halaka with delight as well as shower many gifts upon him.While on his way to visit the nagas, Halaka stopped at the hermitage of a rishi and told the sage what hadhappened. The rishi advised Halaka that, instead of jewels, to ask for the never-failing lasso that was in thenagas' possession. After receiving the lasso, Halaka returned home joyfully.

Relief 5. The hunter captures the kinnari princess.In the pursuit of his calling, Halaka eventually came to the foot of a mountain, where he met another rishi wolived beside a great lake. That rishi told him that the daughter of the kinnara king Manohara, together with herhandmaidens, often came to this very lake to bathe. Now the male kinnara and the female kinnari are wonderouscreatures with out equal, having the body of a bird but the head of a human being as well as a singing voice thatwas as sweet as nectar. In addition, they had the power to transform themselves into human forms of most dazzlingbeauty.

05/04/2009 14:39The Story of Prince Sudhana and Manohara

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Halaka was determined to try and capture the kinnari princess and with the help of the magic lasso he was able tosucceed in this task. As her attendants flew away in terror, Manohara submitted to her fate. She surrendered toHalaka the magic jewel that she bore on her forehead, which gave the hunter total power over her person.

Relief 6. Manohara is given to prince Sudhana.At that very moment the crown-prince of North-Pancala approached the laketogether with his hunting-party. Fearing that his lovely prisoner would betaken from him, Halaka thought it better to offer her to Prince Sudhana ofhis own free will. As soon as Prince sudhana set is eyes on the youngbeauty his heart was consumed with love. And so Sudana and Manoharareturned to the court of North=Pancala. After the young couple weremarried they spent their days together in happiness.

Relief 7. The prince is sent out on a fighting expedition.One day two brahmans had appeared in the city. One of them became theking's spiritual advisor or "purohita," while the other attached himselfto the crown prince. This second brahman persuaded Sudhana to promise thathe would appoint the brahman to be his purohita once he had ascended thethrone. When the present king's purohita heard that he would lose hispresent position should Sudhana become the king, he devised a scheme that would get rid of the prince once and forall. He advised Sudhana's father to send the prince on a most dangerous mission-- to quell rebellion that hadalready caused seven other expeditions to fail.

Relief 8. Sudhana takes leave of his mother.Before Sudhana set out to put an end to the rebellion,he went to see his mother, the queen. After giving her theprecious gem from Manohara's forehead, the prince begged her to take care of his beloved wife.

Relief 9. Sudhana receives help from the yaksas.While he was seated under a tree, not far from the rebellious country, he unexpectedly received help from an armyof yaksas, sent to him by the yaksa-king under the command of his general Pancika. In this way he managed easily tocrush the rebellion and hastened to prepare for the return journey.

Relief 10. The king is advised to sacrifice the kinnari.That same night the king dreamed a dream that filled him with anxiety, which he asked the brahman to interpret.Although the purohita knew well that the meaning was only that the prince had been successful, he told the kingthat the dream predicted evil, which could only be averted by a solemn ceremonial sacrifice, and that the victimmust be a kinnan. At first the king would not hear of Manohara being offered up, but at last he yielded.

Relief 11. Manohara's flight.The intended victim came to hear of her fate; she fled to her mother-in-law and begged her to save her. The queen found no other way of rescuethan to give back the magic jewel so that Manohara could take flightthrough the air. In order to make that her husband would find her,Manohara first went to the rishi near whose dwelling she had beencaptured; there she handed him a signet-ring to give to Sudhana when heshould try to trace her, and told him the way to the land of the kinnaras.

Relief 12. Sudhana brings the tree of the rebels to his father.After paying his respects to his father and presenting the treasures ofthe conquered enemy, Sudhana hastened to his palace to see his belovedManohara.

Relief 13. Sudhana hears from his mother what has happened.Here, to his horror, he heard what had happened; he then went to his mother who told him the truth of the matter.Now life was nothing to him without his beloved, so he searched for her everywhere but to no avail. Then itoccurred to him to inquire of Halaka in what way he had met with her.

Relief 14. Manohara relates her adventures to her father.

Relief 15. Sudhana receives information from the rishi.Halaka directed him to the hermitage of the rishi by the lake, and although the king tried to prevent the princefrom getting away by setting guards on the walls of the city, he managed to escape and reach the rishi's dwelling.With the help of the ring, and following the directions given by Manohara, he reached the kingdom of the kinnara'safter long travelling.

Relief 16. Sudhana and the water-drawing kinnaris.At some distance from the capital he saw a number of kinnaris fetching water and was told it was for the bath ofthe king's daughter Manohara who could not get rid of the human smell. To announce his presence, he threw the ringinto one of the water jugs; so it was recognised by Manohara in her bath and she at once questioned her servantwhether any man had been seen outside the city.

Sudhana was then secretly brought into the palace and Manohara went to her father, king Druma, to find out what hewould do with Sudhana. At first the king threatened to have him chopped into pieces, but soon changed his mind andbecame friendly; he received the prince graciously but all the same required him to give some proofs of hisability.

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Relief 17. The archery-contest.The prince brilliantly proves his skill in the use of the bow.

Relief 18. Sudhana recognises Manohara from the group of kinnaris.The prince is required to pick out his beloved from a number of kinnaras who resemble her exactly. Needless to sayhe was able to select the right one.

Relief 19. The youthful couple enjoy themselves at Druma's court.There was now nothing in the way of the young couple's happiness, and they passed their days pleasantly at thecourt of king Druma. After a while the prince began to long for his own country, and gaining the consent of Drumato depart, they returned to Pancala where they were received with rejoicing.

Relief 20. Sudhana and Manohara distributing gifts in Pancala.Sudhana was enthroned king by his father and lived in great happiness with his beloved Manohara, not forgetting toshow by charity and virtue that he understood how human happiness depends only on the virtuous conduct of formerlives.

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