Part 11: Rathanemi and Rājīmatī

The Blessed Nemi wandered through villages, mines, cities, et cetera and again and again stopped in a samavasaraṇa in Dvārakā. One time when the Lord was there, it began to rain suddenly. Rathanemi, who had gone for alms, started to the Master. Overwhelmed by the rain, he entered a cave. After paying homage to the Master, Rājīmatī was returning. Her companions, sadhvīs, ran away, terrified by the rain, but Rājīmatī entered the cave, not knowing (he was there). She did not see Rathanemi, who had entered first, because of the darkness; but stood up and took off her garments to wring them out.

Seeing her unclothed, wounded by love, Rathanemi said: “You were begged before. Now there is an opportunity for enjoyment (of you by me).” Recognizing Rathanemi from his voice, her body covered at once, she said: “Such a thing is not fitting for well-born people at any time. You are a younger brother of the Omniscient. You are also his disciple. So, what is this idea of yours today, injurious to two worlds, sir! I, being a disciple of the Omniscient, will not fulfil your wish, but you will fall into the ocean of existence, because of that wish.

Stealing from a shrine, destroying a sadhvī’s virtue, killing a sage, and criticism of the doctrine are the fire at the root of the tree of enlightenment.^[1] Creatures in the Agandhana species^[2] do not wish to eat vomit; they would rather enter a terrible, blazing fire. Shame on you, lover of glory, you who wish to eat vomit for the sake of living. Better death for you, indeed. I am the daughter of the King of Bhojas; you are the son of Andhakavṛṣṇi.^[3] Let us not belong to the Gandhana species. Practice self-control resolutely. If, having seen a woman, you touch her, afflicted by love, you will have a wavering mind, like duckweed struck by the wind.”

Thus enlightened by her, feeling repentance again and again, having given up all desire for pleasure, he observed a very severe vow. After confessing his sin to the Lord, he, pure-minded, continuing as an ordinary ascetic for a year, attained omniscience.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

From Haribhadra’s Daśaśāstrīya-upadeśapada, p. 169.

[2]:

A species of serpent. See Uttar., 22. 43; Daśaveāliyasutta, 2.6.8 (Abhyankar).

[3]:

He was the younger brother of Ariṣṭanemi, and the grandson, not the son, of Andhakavṛṣṇi.