Part 4: Marriage between Mahāvīra and Yaśodā

King Samaravīra dispatched his daughter, Yaśodā, with his ministers to give her to Vardhamāna. The ministers bowed to Siddhārtha and said: “Our king has sent his daughter Yaśodā to be given to Vardhamāna. Already our Master is your Honor’s servant. He would be especially so from that alliance. Please favor us.”

King Siddhārtha said: “Both Triśalā’s and my wishes are very favorable to the prince’s marriage. But the prince, disgusted with worldly existence from his very birth, cannot even be spoken to on this subject of marriage, et cetera. Nevertheless, out of regard for you we shall speak today to our son about marriage in various roundabout speeches through friends of his.”

After this reply, the king took leave of Queen Triśalā and sent clever friends of his to Vardhamāna. They went and bowed respectfully to Prince Vardhamāna and communicated King Siddhārtha’s command. The Blessed One said, “Because you are my companions, you know my nature averse to householding.” They replied: “It is true that we know you have always feared existence. But we know also that your parents’ command cannot be disobeyed. Moreover, you never scorn an affectionate request of ours. How is it you suddenly scorn us all today?”

Then the Blessed One said: “Simpletons, what is this zeal of yours! For acquiring a wife, et cetera is the cause of wandering in existence. I am not a mendicant at this very moment, though eager to be, because of my resolution, ‘While my parents live, they shall not suffer from separation from me.’”

When the Lord had spoken thus in regard to marriage, Queen Triśalā herself went there at the king’s command. The Lord of the World rose to greet his mother with respect and, after he had seated her on a high jeweled lion-throne, he said: “I am happy that you have come, mother! What is the reason for your coming? If you had sent for me, I would have gone at once at your command.”

Queen Triśalā said: “You came to our house (by birth) because of our no small merit, the cause of much prosperity. People are not sated with seeing you; how much less are we, niggardly with the wealth of the sight of you! We have always known this: It is from compassion for us that you remain here as a householder, though you are disgusted with worldly existence. You did this difficult thing against your own wishes. (But) we are not satisfied by so much, house of reverence. As we see you today suitable for a bride, act accordingly. Marry the princess, named Yaśodā, who has come. Your father, too, is very eager for the sight of your marriage-festival. Do that, even though difficult, out of regard for us.”

The Blessed One thought: “Now what has happened to me! On the one hand, my mother very persistent; on the other hand, fear of wandering through births. Even while I was in the womb, I kept my body motionless from fear of paining my mother. I shall stay in the condition of a householder in opposition to (my own) wishes. There is karma which has pleasure as its fruit; my parents are to be honored.” With these reflections, the Blessed One consented to his mother’s command.

Queen Triśalā herself went to King Siddhārtha and, delighted, reported their son’s consent to marry. On an auspicious day the king celebrated the marriage of Mahāvīra and Yaśodā with a festival equal to the birth-festival. King Siddhārtha and Queen Triśalā, seeing the bride and groom, considering themselves fortunate, rejoiced as if they had drunk nectar.

The Master, though indifferent, enjoyed sensual pleasure with Queen Yaśodā, the moon to his parents’ eyes. In the course of time Queen Yaśodā bore the Lord a daughter, Priyadarśanā^[1] both in name and form. Jamāli, a prince of high family, wealthy, in the first bloom of youth, married Priyadarśanā when she was grown.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Pleasant to the sight.