राजगृह का
राजा दुर्योधन एक नागराज से उपदेश ग्रहण कर
मरणोपरान्त संखपाल नामक एक संन्यासी
वृत्ति का नाग बना ; और परम-सील की सिद्धि प्राप्त करने हेतु दीमक-पर्वत-पर कठिन तप करने
लगा। उसी समय सोलह व्यक्तियों ने उस जैसे
विशालकाय सपं को लेटे देखा तो उन्होंने उसे
भालों से बींध कर उसके शरीर में कई छेद
बनाये और उन छेदों में रस्सी घुसा कर उसे
बाँध दिया। फिर वे उसे सड़कों पर घसीटते हुए
ले जाने लगे।
मार्ग में एक आलाट नामक एक समृद्ध श्रेष्ठी पाँच
सौ बैलगाडियों में माल भर कर कहीं जा रहा था। उसने जब
संखपाल की दुर्दशा देखी तो उसे उस पर दया आई। उसने
उन सोलह व्यक्तियों को पर्याप्त
मूल्य देकर संखपाल को मुक्त कराया।
संखपाल तब ऊलार के नागलोक ले जाकर एक वर्ष तक अपने यहाँ अतिथि के
रुप में रखा और अपने महान् उपदेशों
से लाभान्वित किया।
O nce the Bodhisatta was born as a prince of Rajagaha (modern Rajgir, Bihar) having the name Duyyodhana. When he came of age his father, who was the king of Rajagaha abdicated the throne in his favour and renounced the world to become an ascetic. He lived in a forest on the bank of the Kannapanna river, which flew from the Sankhapala lake near the mount Gandaka. The lake was named after the lord of the lake Sankhapala, a Naga (Serpent) king. Although Sankhapala was a Naga, yet he was kind and compassionate. He was also religious and was greatly impressed by the life-style and doctrine of the ascetic. Soon he became his disciple and visited him frequently to hear his discourses.
The ascetic giving sermon to the Naga king Sankhapala, the huge snake, Ajanta
The hunters dragging Sankhapala, Ajanta
One day Duyyodhana,
the son of the ascetic and the king of Rajgir somehow happened to know the
whereabouts of his father and visited his hermitage. There, he met
Sankhapala and was impressed by his style and ideals and thought of
becoming like him.
By and by Duyyodhana
died and was reborn in the Naga world as a king bearing the same name
Sankhapala, because once he had desired to become like the Naga king. When
he grew up his samskara (confections) made him renounce the world to retire on an
ant-hill near the Kannapanna to keep the holy fast. As he was engrossed in
the meditations sixteen men came and seized him and pierced his body with
stakes to make holes to fasten him with ropes. Though strong, the king of
the serpent did not show any anger to resist them. When the men were
dragging him to the city a pious man name Alara felt pity for the snake
and had him released.
Sankhapala, giving discourses
(Bodhisattavas father is identified with Maha Kassapa; and Alara as Sariputta).
See Sankhapala Jataka Jataka Pali No. 524; Chariya Pitaka 2.10; See also M.A.2.617; BuA.50