Tibetan Tales, Derived from Indian Sources

Kapilabhadrā (Bhadrā)

Also known as: Bhadrā / Kapilabhadrā · Role: daughter of Kapila; wife of Nyagrodhaja · First appears: Chapter IX

In Chapter IX, Kapila and his wife betrothed their daughter Bhadrā to Nyagrodhaja. She and Nyagrodhaja agreed to keep their vow to live without amorous relations; after reminding one another of it, they lived chastely in his parents’ home. When Nyagrodhaja gave away his property, the two left together to pursue an ascetic life, and Bhadrā entered the Nirgrantha order.

At the festival of the meeting of the Nāgarājas Girika and Sundara, Nyagrodhaja urged Bhadrā toward the Buddha’s teaching and sent her to Mahāprajāpatī, who received her. “At length Bhadrā became an Arhantin,” and Mahākāśyapa gave her liberty to collect alms for herself.

After Ajātaśatru killed his father, an evil minister seized Bhadrā and brought her to the prince, who fell in love with her and enjoyed himself with her. When she later reappeared at the palace and he tried to embrace her, she rose into the air by magic, frightening him. He fell at her feet and asked forgiveness, which she granted.

Relationship record

Life events

  • Kapilabhadrā’s parents betrothed her to Nyagrodhaja.(Chapter IX · 📍 Kapila)
  • Nyagrodhaja and Kapilabhadrā agreed to honor their vow to live without amorous relations.(Chapter IX · 📍 Kapila)
    • With: Nyagrodhaja (Kāśyapa)
    • “After Nyagrodhaja and Kapila’s daughter Bhadrā had held counsel together thereon, he went back to Nyagrodhika.”
  • Nyagrodhaja married Kapilabhadrā, and they lived together chastely in his parents’ home.(Chapter IX)
    • With: Nyagrodhaja (Kāśyapa)
    • “Then said Nyagrodhaja to Kapila’s daughter Bhadrā, ‘O Bhadrā, remember the previously taken vow.’ And just the same did Bhadrā also say to Nyagrodhaja. After they had thus admonished one another, they lived together like a mother and a son.”
  • Nyagrodhaja gave away his property and left home with Bhadrā to pursue ascetic life.(Chapter IX)
  • Bhadrā entered the Nirgrantha clerical order.(Chapter IX · 📍 Rāajagṛiha)
    • “He received her, and she entered among the Nirgranthas.”
  • Nyagrodhaja urged Bhadrā to turn toward the Buddha’s teaching and sent her to Mahāprajāpatī.(Chapter IX · 📍 Rājagṛiha)
  • Bhadrā became an Arhantin.(Chapter IX)
    • “At length Bhadrā became an Arhantin, and Mahākāśyapa gave her back her liberty to collect alms for herself.”
  • An evil minister had Bhadrā seized and brought to Prince Ajātaśatru, who was grieving after killing his father and fell in love with her.(Chapter IX)
    • With: Prince Ajātaśatru
    • “Then he conducted her to the king, who fell passionately in love with her as soon as he saw her, and enjoyed himself with her.”
  • After Bhadrā reappeared at the palace, Prince Ajātaśatru tried to embrace her; she rose into the air by magic, frightening him, and he asked her forgiveness.(Chapter IX · 📍 the palace)
    • With: Prince Ajātaśatru
    • “He fell at her feet, and she granted him the forgiveness for which he prayed.”

Chapter IX

  • parent: Kapila “In it lived a very rich Brahman named Kapila, to whom there had been born, after he had married in his own degree, an extremely beautiful daughter.”
  • parent: Kapila’s unnamed wife (Chapter 009) “Among others, the wife of the Brahman Kapila heard of this, and told her daughter to go and make an offering to the Goddess of Virgins.”
  • married with Nyagrodhaja (Kāśyapa) “Then said Nyagrodhaja to Kapila’s daughter Bhadrā, ‘O Bhadrā, remember the previously taken vow.’”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of Tibetan Tales, Derived from Indian Sources. Made with Rho MD.

Explore the whole book in Rho MD — free.

Get Rho MD — free
Open in Rho MD →