Part 2: The six sons of Devakī

And now the Blessed nemi, purifying the surface of the earth, went in course to Bhaddilapura, the chief of cities. In this city there were the six sons of Sulasā and Nāga, borne by Devakī, who had been given by Naigameṣin. They had married thirty-two girls each. Enlightened by Śrī nemi, they took the vow at his side. They all, having their last body, acquiring the twelve aṅgas gradually, wandered with the Master, practicing severe penance.

And now the Blessed Nemi went to Dvārakā in his wandering and stopped in the garden Sahasrāmravar.a there. Devakī’s six sons, seeking food at the end of a two-day fast, forming three couples, entered the city Dvārakā. Two of them, Anīkayaśas and Anantasena, went to Devakī’s house and Devakī rejoiced, seeing them resembling Kṛṣṇa. She fed them with siṃhakesaras,^[1] the best sweetmeats, and they went away.

Then two other full-brothers came. She gave food to the great munis, Ajitasena and Nihataśatru; and two others came. Bowing to the eminent ascetics, Devayaśar. and Śatrusena, Devakī asked, with her hands folded respectfully: “Have you come here again and again from confusion about directions, or is this confusion of my mind? Are you not the same? Or rather, in this city resembling heaven in wealth, do great sages not find suitable food, drink, et cetera?”

They said: “We are not confused about directions. We are six full-brothers, living in Bhaddilapura, sons of Sulasā and Nāga. After hearing dharma, we became mendicants with Nemi. We six, forming three pairs, have come to your house in turn.”

Then Devakī thought: “How can these six resemble Kṛṣṇa so? There is no such resemblance even of sesame-seed with sesame-seed. Formerly I was told by the sādhu Atimukta, ‘You will have eight living sons.’ Could these be my sons?” With these reflections, on the next day devakī went to the samavasaraṇa erected by the gods to ask Nemi about that. Knowing her intention, the Master said, “These sons of yours were delivered, living, to Sulasā by Naigamcṣin.”

Then she, seeing the six sādhus there, her breasts flowing, paid homage to them and said: “It is a good thing, sons, that you have been seen. There is eminent sovereignty or initiation of my sons. But this is for my sorrow. Not one has been cherished by myself.” The Blessed One then said: “Do not grieve uselessly, Devakī. For this fruit of former acts has developed in this birth. In a former birth^[2] you took seven jewels from a co-wife. But you gave back one jewel to her weeping.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Laḍḍu, a sweetmeat ball. PH.

[2]:

See Appendix 1.