Ajatasatru Kunika

Summary

Muni Nagaraj’s article compares accounts of King Ajātaśatru (Kunika) in Jaina Āgamas and Buddhist Tripiṭakas. In Buddhist sources, Ajātaśatru first hears of the Buddha from the physician Jīvaka and visits him on the night of Kārtika Pūrṇimā, confessing the murder of his father Bimbisāra and seeking refuge. He later demonstrates devotion by demanding a share of the Buddha’s relics and building a stūpa over them. Buddhist narratives thus portray him as a repentant sinner redeemed by faith in the Buddha. Jaina texts offer a different perspective: the Upāṅga Uvavāī describes Ajātaśatru as an already devout lay disciple of Mahāvīra who appoints an official to keep him informed of the Tīrthaṅkara’s daily activities. According to this account, he imprisoned but did not kill his father, who died while fasting; Ajātaśatru repents and remains a steadfast supporter of the Jaina order. Nagaraj analyses these divergences and notes that each tradition emphasises themes important to its doctrine—Buddhists illustrate the saving grace of confession, whereas Jains highlight personal responsibility and the karmic consequences of violence. The article also sketches the political and cultural context of Ajātaśatru’s reign, describing his capital Campā and his patronage of religious institutions. Although details differ, both traditions agree that Ajātaśatru eventually becomes a pious lay follower and that his story conveys moral lessons on anger, repentance and the transformative power of association with spiritual teachers. The discussion ends with the promise of further examination in subsequent issues.