Part 10: Story of Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa

Kṛṣṇa’s son by his wife Ḍhaṇḍhaṇā, named Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa, married many princesses, when he was grown. One day, after listening to dharma at the Master’s side, his mind disgusted with existence, he took initiation, and his father held his departure-festival. He wandered with the Master and was esteemed by the sādhus. As he was so occupied, his obstructive-karma matured. Wherever he went, he obtained nothing at all there; and it was the same with the munis who went with him.

Then the sādhus declared to Neminātha: “Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s son, disciple of the Lord of Three Worlds, does not receive alms in a city with a generous population of rich coreligionists. What is the reason for that, Master?”

The Master related: “In the past there was a Brāhman, named Parāśara, the king’s agent in the village Dhānyapūraka in the Magadhas. One day he had the king’s fields sowed by the villagers; and when the food arrived,^[1] he did not let the villagers go to eat. He had one furrow plowed in each field by force by the hungry, thirsty, tired oxen and plowmen. He acquired obstructive karma and after dying and wandering through existence, became this Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa. Now his karma has matured.”

Hearing that, a desire for emancipation being produced, Ḍhaṇḍh aṇa took a vow in the Master’s presence: “I will not eat what has been obtained by another.” Enduring the trial of failure in begging,^[2] Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa passed some time, not eating what had been obtained by another. One day Vāsudeva asked Neminātha present in his council, “Who among these great sages docs what is difficult to do?” The Master said: “They all do what is difficult to do, but especially Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa who has passed so long a time, enduring the trial of failure in begging.” After bowing to the Lord, as Kṛṣṇa was entering Dvārakā, he saw Sādhu Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa going in search of alms. Getting down from his elephant, Kṛṣṇa bowed to him with great devotion. A sheth saw that and thought, “Who is this fortunate man to whom Kṛṣṇa bowed?” In his wandering Ḍhaṇḍh aṇa came to this same sheth’s house and he provided him with sweetmeats with much honor.

Dhaṇḍhaṇa came, bowed to the Omniscient, and said: “Is my obstructive karma destroyed that I have obtained alms?” The Master said: “Your destructive karma is not destroyed. This receiving of alms was from Hari. The sheth gave you alms because Hari paid homage to you.” Thinking, “This is receiving from another,” he, devoid of love, et cetera, began to put the alms down on the bare ground. As he was engaged in firm meditation to the effect, “Karma acquired in the past is very difficult for creatures to destroy, alas!” his omniscience arose. Then the sage Ḍhaṇḍhaṇa, after circumambulating Nemi, sat down in the assembly of kevalins, and was worshipped by the gods.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

It would be brought by the families of the workers.

[2]:

Alābhaparīṣaha. See I, n. 55 and p. 448.