DHANNA AND SHALIBHADRA

Pratishthanpur was a city on the coast. There lived a trader named Dhanasar. By his wife Shilavati he had four sons named Dhandatt, Dhandev, Dhanchand and Dhanyakumar. The first three were selfish and unintelligent, while Dhanyakumar who was fondly called Dhanna was smart, bright, intelligent and attractive. Dhanasar loved him very much. The other three were therefore feeling jealous of the younger brother. Dhanna was lucky too; whatever venture he undertook, turned out to be successful.
Once a ship came to Pratishthanpur with lot of merchandise. The owner was in urgent need of selling the merchandise. He therefore sent a message to his regular customer. As it was however the time of that customer’s lunch and afternoon nap, he deferred it for the next day to go to the port.
Dhanna happened to go to the port and saw that the merchandise was available at low price. He therefore instantly contracted to buy it. When the regular trader went to the ship the next day, he was disappointed to learn that the merchandise was already sold. He needed it any way. He had therefore to buy the same from Dhanna who could make fancy profit from the transaction. Dhanna bought valuable jewelry from that profit and presented to his sisters-in-law, who were very pleased with the young brother-in-law.
On another occasion, he saw shining sand outside some premises. He could make out that it was Tejanturi and was very valuable for certain purposes. The original trader who had bought it, had died and his sons were not aware of the use of sand. They had therefore dumped it outside. Dhanna asked them whether they would like to sell it. They replied that it was of no use to them and he was at liberty to pick it up. Dhanna did accordingly and stored it in the warehouse. His brothers considered this act of Dhanna as foolish and were repeatedly telling Dhanasar to throw it away.
Once however a trader came to Pratishthanpur in search of Tejanturi. As he could not find it anywhere, he requested the king to help him in getting it. Dhanna was a friend of the prince. When Dhanna heard from him that some trader was looking for Tejanturi, he offered to supply it. The trader willingly paid fancy price for the sand and Dhanna became a wealthy man. He again bought fancy gifts for every one in the family. His father was pleased and very much appreciated the insight of Dhanna. But that made his brothers all the more jealous.
Getting sick of his brothers jealousy, Dhanna once decided to migrate to some other place to try his luck. He therefore left the place leaving everything for his brothers. He traveled far and reached Ujjayini which was being ruled by Chandpradyot. By his intelligence and good luck he acquired lot of money and soon became the right hand man of the king.
Meanwhile his brothers had lost everything that he had left. His parents therefore came to Ujjayini in search of work along with the three sons and their wives. Dhanna invited all of them to stay with him. His brothers however could not appreciate his magnanimity and again started envying him. In disgust, Dhanna once again left everything to them and proceeded towards Rajgruhi.
On the way while he was meditating on the bank of river Ganga, he gained Chintamani Ratna, which is a jewel that fulfills all desires. Equipped with that he came to Rajgruhi.
When Dhanna reached Rajgruhi, he was very tired. He decided to rest on the outskirts of the city in a park. It was owned by Kusumpal but was deserted, because all its trees and plants had gone dry. How nice this park would have been, if it was green ? Dhanna thought and by virtue of his Chintamani jewel the entire plant life was revived. People passing by were surprised to see the park green. Kusumpal also came there and noticed that the miracle had happened on account of Dhanna’s presence. He was pleased with that lucky young man. He had only one daughter named Kusum. He thought that Dhanna would be an appropriate match for her. He therefore took Dhanna to his place and got him married to his daughter.
Shrenik, the king of Rajgruhi, had an elephant named Sechanak. It was known all over the country for its boldness and extraordinary performance. Shrenik was very fond of it. Once that elephant went mad. His keepers were unable to bring it back to control. Abhayakumar was in captivity of Chandpradyot at that time. The King therefore felt very much helpless.
As Dhanna learnt about the problem, he volunteered and brought the elephant in control with the help of his Chintamani jewel. The king was very pleased with him. He was in need of a capable advisor in absence of Abhayakumar. He saw Dhanna as the right man for the purpose. He therefore appointed Dhanna as his advisor. He also gave him his daughter Shobha in marriage. In those times, polygamy was an accepted way of life.
In Rajgruhi there was a wealthy man named Gobhadra. By his wife Bhadra he had a son named Shalibhadra and a daughter named Subhadra. Attracted by his status and wealth, 32 people had given their daughters in marriage to Shalibhadra who was leading the most luxurious life. Meanwhile, Gobhadra was conducting his lucrative money lending business and Bhadra was efficiently managing the family affairs.
Once a rogue planned to gain money by playing a trick. He had only one eye. He complained that he had mortgaged the other eye to Gobhadra and now wanted it back. The king was exasperated to hear such bogus claim but the rogue produced his accomplices as witnesses to the mortgage. The king therefore entrusted that knotty problem to his new advisor.
Dhanna called that rogue and said that Gobhadra had many eyes mortgaged to him. It was therefore hard to identify the complainant’s eye. Dhanna therefore asked him to give his other eye so as to properly identify his mortgaged eye. The rogue had to withdraw his complaint and was appropriately sentenced for the attempted fraud.
Gobhadra got sick of the worldly life by this incident. He however wanted to get his daughter married before leaving the worldly life. He was very pleased with Dhanna for the way he had solved the problem. Gobhadra therefore gave Subhadra in marriage to Dhanna and became a Muni leaving a vast fortune for his son Shalibhadra.
Dhanna’s brothers again lost everything that Dhanna had left in Ujjayini. His parents therefore came to Rajgruhi along with the sons and their wives. Dhanna once again welcomed them to stay with him. The brothers however could not bear the high status and prosperity of Dhanna and started creating problems. Their wives advised them to live happily and peacefully with Dhanna, but they were picking up quarrels every now and then.
In disgust, Dhanna left Rajgruhi with the permission of the king and went to Kaushambi. There too, Dhanna could soon please the king and became his favorite. During that trip he happened to marry three more girls and then came back to Rajgruhi.
Meanwhile Gobhadra had died and was reborn in heaven. On account of his attachment for Shalibhadra, he used to supply all his needs, heavenly jewelry, divine apparel etc. Bhadra was taking every care to see that the luxuriously happy life of Shalibhadra does not get any way affected. Most of the time Shalibhadra used to stay along with his wives in palatial building where all his needs were taken care of by his mother.
Once some traders from Nepal came to Rajgruhi to sell diamond studded blankets. They went to the king’s palace, but Shrenik declined to buy any because they were too costly. They couldn’t t get any other buyer as well.
In despair, they happened to pass by Shalibhadra’s place talking about their failure in selling the blankets. Bhadra heard it and called them inside. She offered to buy 32 blankets for her daughters in law. They however had only 16 blankets. Bhadra bought all of them at the demanded price. She cut them into halves and gave one piece to each of her daughters-in-law. It was the custom in their household that they would use anything for only one day and the next day even the most costly materials were to be discarded.
When queen Chellana heard about the Nepali blankets, she asked king Shrenik to buy at least one for her. Shrenik accordingly called back those traders who told him that all their blankets were sold to Bhadra. Shrenik therefore sent a messenger to Bhadra with a request to spare one blanket for his queen.
The messenger came back with the reply that they were halved and every half of the blankets was in use by her daughters-in-law. The next day all the pieces of blankets were discarded and picked up by the servants. One of them used to work for Chellana too.
She went to the palace for work with a stitched blanket on her shoulder. Chellana could not believe her eyes when she saw that the blanket which the king couldn’t buy, was adoring the maid. When she inquired, she came to know of all the details of Bhadra’s household.
She told it to the king who was surprised by the affluence of Shalibhadra. He was inquisitive to see him and invited him to the court. Bhadra however sent the reply that her son never got down from the upper floor of her palace and in turn invited the king to her place.
Shrenik accepted her invitation. As he came, she took him to the fifth floor, from where she called Shalibhadra to come down from the seventh floor to see the king. Shalibhadra had never heard anything about king. He thought that king was some thing that his mother wanted to buy. He therefore replied that she could decide about the king herself.
Then Bhadra went up and explained that king was the lord of the Magadha and was accordingly his lord too. Shalibhadra therefore came down to pay his respect to the king as advised by his mother. He had always thought that he was the lord of everything that concerned him. The idea of having a lord over him therefore hurt him.
Once along with a friend, he happened to go to Acharya Dharmaghosh. After listening his sermon, Shalibhadra asked the Acharya how he could gain a status where he would not have any overlord. Acharya replied that as long as he desired something, he had to depend upon others and dependency creates an overlord. The only way to become really independent was to give up everything and to lead renounced life like his father.
Shalibhadra therefore was inclined to renounce immediately but his mother told him that renunciation meant leading a very tough life. As he was brought up in heavenly luxury, it would be very hard for him to give up everything all of a sudden. It would be better for him to give up his attachment for everything gradually. Shalibhadra had maximum attachment for his wives. He therefore decided to leave them one after another and planned to renounce on the 33rd day.
The news of his intention soon reached his sister Subhadra. After that her husband Dhanna once saw tears in her eyes. When asked about the cause of her grief, she told him about the intention of Shalibhadra to renounce. Dhanna told her that if her brother was really serious about renouncing, he should better leave all of them immediately. Subhadra was unable to say anything, but another wife replied that it was easy to say so and asked whether he could leave even one of his six wives.
Dhanna had already developed a high sense of detachment and was really thinking to renounce. He saw this opportunity. He instantly decided to leave all of them. Then approaching Shalibhadra he asked him to join him in renouncement.
Shalibhadra was very much encouraged by what Dhanna had done. He also left everything at once and went to Lord Mahavir along with Dhanna. They adopted monkshood. Both of them very soon got well versed in all the Agams (Scriptures). They were keen to follow the path of salvation and were observing severe austerities.
Once they came back to Rajgruhi along with the Lord. They were due for the termination of one month’s fast. They therefore went to Bhadra’s place for alms. When the Munis came to her house, Bhadra was getting ready to go to the camp in order to see them. As the Munis had become very slim on account of severe austerities, none of her servants could recognize them. Thus they did not get any alms. On their way back, they however got yogurt from a milkmaid who happened to be Shalibhadra’s mother in the previous life; and thus they terminated their fast.
After that with the permission of the Lord, they went up the nearby Vaibhargiri hill and resorted to Anashan (fast unto death). At the end of Anashan, they attained Sarwartha Siddhi heaven.

DAMANAK

In the city of Rajpur, there lived a man named Kulaputra. Jaindas, a Jain Shravak, was his close friend. In the company of his friend, Kulaputra came in touch with the Jain Munis and undertook the vow not to eat fish.
Once a terrible famine broke out in the city, and people started living on fish. Even the staunchest vegetarians changed their diet, and there was hardly a household where fish was not a staple food. Now, Kulaputra’s vow was on a severe trial. His wife said to him one day, “Don’t you see, there is no food even for the children, and they are starving ? And yet you are so very indifferent. Why don’t you buy me some fish ? I can’t do without it.”
Kulaputra responded, “You see, my dear, I have no desire to deprive other living beings of their life just to save my own. Grains are our food. I can’t extend my hands to fish. I have affection for my children, but I have a similar affection for everyone else. I can’t overlook this. Above all, I will not break my vow.”
Kulaputra’s brother-in-law forced him to accompany him to the riverbank in order to catch fish. Very reluctantly he went with him and very indifferently he threw his net in the water. But what a wonder ! He had the largest catch. When Kulaputra saw that the fish were very uneasy and restless outside the water, he at once released them in the stream. He tried thrice, but on each occasion the outcome was the same, and he released the fish into the stream on all the three occasions.
Burdened with dissimilar thoughts moving up and down in his mind, he went on fast unto death and was liberated of the mortal frame. He was born in the family of a merchant named Manihar in the city of Rajgruhi and was given the name Dhamanak.
Manihar was a man of great wealth and fortune. But by the time Dhamanak was eight years old, there broke out an epidemic in which all members of the merchant’s family except Dhamanak died. He had now no guardian to look after him, and the vast property took no time to disappear. At last, the orphan took shelter with another merchant, Sagarpoat by name.
One day, some Munis came to Sagarpoat’s house to seek food. The eldest of them, when he saw the boy, casually observed to his fellow Munis that when the boy’s auspicious Karmas would come up, he would be the head of this very household.
Naturally, the observation could not be relished by the merchant, particularly because he had a son to inherit his fortune. So at once he thought out a plan to kill him. He sent for the butcher and gave him the assignment. The butcher took the boy to a deep forest. But as he looked at his face, he took pity on him and could not withhold his disgust of the merchant who had given him a cruel assignment. He pierced Dhamanak’s finger, took a few drops of blood, and released him. He asked him to flee at once and never again to show his face in that region.
When all alone in the forest and deeply afflicted by terror, Dhamanak met a cowherd, who heard his account and took him home. Here started a new chapter in his life. He was now assisting the cowherd, and this work he did not dislike.
Some years passed in this way, and Dhamanak was now a young man. One day, it so happened that the merchant Sagarpoat came to that very place on business. He saw the young man and liked him very much. He learnt on inquiry that this was an orphan whom the cowherd had picked up from the forest years back.
The merchant now had no doubt that this was the boy whom he had himself condemned years ago. His old apprehensions revived, and once more he was determined to wipe him out of existence. So he requested the cowherd to lend him the service of the boy to carry an urgent message to his son.
Dhamanak reached the outskirts of the city of Rajgruhi with the merchant’s letter in his hand. He took shelter in a temple to rest and did not know when he fell fast asleep. The envelope lay beside him.
Just then, the merchant’s daughter Bisa came to the temple. When her eyes fell on an envelope addressed to her own brother, she could not check the temptation to pick it up. When she read it, she found that her brother had been commissioned by her father to administer dreadful venom to the bearer thereof as soon as he reached him.
Bisa looked at the young man, reread the letter, and again looked at him. She did not understand why her father had given such a cruel order. Now, poison is called ‘Bis’ in the north Indian dialects, and the girl, by a gentle stroke of the pen, changed ‘Bis’ into Bisa, which was her own name. Then she put the letter from where she had picked it up and silently departed.
The letter was duly delivered to the merchant’s son, and the merchant’s wishes were duly honored to the very letter of the note. When the merchant returned home, he found to his greatest disgust that the young man he had condemned had turned into the next of his kin. He felt helpless and bitter.
A minor stroke of a pen thus changed into a major stroke of fortune. But the merchant’s thinking did not change. He was still bent on killing the young man, even though that would be a great misfortune for his own daughter.
So he instructed some of his faithful men to be on the lookout for a suitable opportunity to kill him. When auspicious Karma is up, no one can do as much as to bend your hair, let alone kill you. The men were unsuccessful in their assignment.
One day, the whole family, including Dhamanak, had gone to a friend’s house to participate in an occasion. Dhamanak returned somewhat early. But since the entrance door was locked, he lay outside on a cot. Somehow he felt restless, got up and went away for a little walk. Meanwhile his brother-in-law returned. But since the entrance was still locked, he lay on the same cot and was soon asleep.
Now, the merchant’s men, who were after Dhamanak, saw him lying on the cot outside. They went to get their weapons. By the time they returned with sharp weapons, the person on the cot had changed, and thus the most unfortunate victim of the merchant’s order was none other than his own dear son. Thus one does not know how a ditch dug for another may turn out to be a big well for the digger himself.
Having lost his only son, the merchant had now no other alternative but to change his attitude toward his Dhamanak. He discussed the matter with his wife, and the two unanimously came to the conclusion that they can’t change the prediction made by the Muni and accordingly Dhamanak should be entrusted with full responsibility of running the household.
Mysterious is the turn of Karmas. Dhamanak, who was born in a rich family and had lost his all, was again in command of a huge fortune.
For many years, Dhamanak enjoyed the prosperity and happiness of the earthly life. Then he adopted the vows of a Shravak and followed them rigorously, enriching thereby his life on earth, and, at death, finding a place among the celestial beings.

MAHESHVARDATT

There was a city named Vijaypur. A Kshatriya (warrior) named Maheshvardatt resided in that city. His wife was Gangila. The parents of Maheshvardatt were old and were capable of spending the time in devotion of God and in religious rites, if they so desired; but they were not inclined at all to devote their time in such manner.
How can one be inclined to devotion of God or such religious activities if one has spent one’s life in worldly affairs ? Casual visit to a saint or attending religious lectures or discourses or observance of some religious vow creates greater interest in such practice at a later stage in life and thereby one can improve one’s life.
But the parents of Maheshvardatt never called upon any saint. They were fully concentrated in their worldly affairs. Maheshvardatt also lived the same type of life from morning till night and maintained his family. The family ate non-vegetarian food and even used wine and other liquor.
How choosing of proper and improper diet can be expected when there is an absence of religious atmosphere ? Today also people don’t care about habits of proper or improper diet because religious atmosphere is almost absent. The wise people know that the non-vegetarians and those who consume liquor are bound to go to hell and have to undergo unbearable tortures there.
Once, Maheshvardatt’s father became ill. Despite the best medical treatment he did not recover. Medicines help only when longevity helps. When he found that his days were numbered he worried, “What about my wife, my son, my family and my cattle brought up with great affection ?” He was much worried and uneasy. Maheshvardatt saw this and asked, “Father, let me know anything you desire. I shall fulfill it. You don’t worry at all.” The father replied, “Son, you are very wise and diligent, so you will maintain your family quite well, still times are very critical and so spend money carefully. Look after our buffaloes. I brought them up with great love. Moreover, on Shraddha day as observed by our family, sacrifice a young buffalo. Don’t forget.”
With these words the father died. The cravings entertained at last moments of life, many a times establishes a person’s next life. Thus, after death he was born as a male-buffalo in his own herd.
Sometime after, Maheshvardatt’s mother also died crying, “My house, my family, my world, my fame !” After death she was born as a female dog and stayed loitering near the house of Maheshvardatt.
Funeral ceremonies were over. The caste dinner was over. Maheshvardatt’s reputation swelled and the worldly affairs proceeded ahead.
Maheshvardatt’s wife was beautiful, clever in domestic works but was perverted in character. This immorality suppresses all virtues as a gram of salt spoils a pan full of milk. Her sensuality found no scope when her father-in-law and mother-in-law existed, but now they were no more and Maheshvardatt also traveled out of town for a longer period for business. Meanwhile she indulged in sensual affairs with one fellow. The sin some day is bound to be exposed.
One day due to some need Maheshvardatt had to return home abruptly. He found the doors of his house closed from within. He doubted and peeped through the cracks. He saw a man. Even an animal can’t but be enraged on seeing his mate in communion with another animal. How can a man tolerate this ? He shouted, “Gangila, open the doors !”
Hearing the shouting of her husband, she became very nervous. She thought of concealing her lover, but there was no such place where she could conceal him. Helpless as she was, she opened the doors and stood terrified and trembling like leaves of tree when the sudden wind comes in.
Maheshvardatt entered the room, caught his wife’s lover by neck and began to beat him. The lover was hammered severely in the abdomen and killed. The deceased while dying thought, “I reap the rewards of my own acts. It is no use being enraged with anyone.”
This noble thought conceived at the time of death procured for him the birth of a human being. He was born in Gangila from his own semen. How strange are the designs of fate ! Father is born as the son of his son and a son is born as a father. A mother formerly is reborn as wife and wife returns as mother.
Maheshvardatt kept this affair as a secret, as it might affect his own reputation. The wise people have laid down, that “Longevity, wealth, some family vice, Mantra, medicine, gift, honors and insults, should be maintained as secrets.”
After a few months Gangila delivered a very handsome son and the whole family rejoiced on the event. The birth of a son is always an event of joy for parents.
The day of Shraddha (yearly ritual after the dead) approached and Maheshvardatt remembered his promise to his father. He searched for a young buffalo in the market but could not secure a good one in the price expected. Hence he decided to sacrifice the young buffalo brought up by him in his own house. The buffalo was sacrificed and its meat was cooked and made ready to be served to relatives. In the meanwhile, the female dog entered and started licking utensils for food. Maheshvardatt was very angry at this and he flung a wooden stick at the dog. The ankle of the dog was broken and thereby she ran away screaming.
Still, it was time for the relatives to arrive, Maheshvardatt was waiting at the door with his young son. He was playing with his son. In the meanwhile, an enlightened Muni passing by, on seeing this, nodded. Maheshvardatt saw his nodding. So he approached the Muni and with respect inquired, “What is the cause of your nodding ?” The Muni replied, “Friend, the matter is not worth your knowing.” But he insisted to hear about this. “If you still insist and wish, I have no objection in narrating,” the Muni said. Maheshvardatt said, “Then let me hear it entirely.”
The Muni began, “Good fellow, today you are performing Shraddha of your father; and therefore, you have sacrificed a buffalo. That buffalo was your own father in previous life. While dying he was anxious about his cattle and so he was born as a cattle.” Maheshvardatt was very much shocked to hear these words. He said “Lord, Is it true ?” The Muni replied, “It is true, but the matter does not end here.”
“The dog whose ankle was broken by you just now with a stick, was your mother in previous life. She also at the time of death entertained anxieties as “My house, my children, my worldly relations, etc. and she died with these thoughts.” Maheshvardatt shut his ears to these words.
The Muni continued, “Oh good fellow, now listen to the whole matter in full when you have known part of it. The son whom you love so much is none else but your wife’s lover killed by you with a kick on the abdomen. While dying he entertained noble thoughts and he attained to human birth. He was born in his own semen.”
Hearing these words Maheshvardatt felt disgust for the world. He fell at the feet of the Muni on the spot and requested him, “Oh Lord, relieve me from this delusive world.” The Muni showed him to the path of eternal happiness. Maheshvardatt thus subsequently achieved salvation.

MORAL LESSON: A religious environment at home is very essential to uplift our soul and achieve infinite happiness. Children learn from their parents, therefore, parents must set up a good example. We shouldn’t be worried about death but should prepare for it. Our thoughts should be pure all the time so that at the time of death worldly matters don’t cloud our thinking. We should keep in contact with the enlightened persons or those who can throw light on Kevali’s established preaching so as to attain the right knowledge, right perception and right conduct.

CHARUDATT

Shreshthi Bhanu was a resident of the city of Champa. His wife’s name was Subhadra. They had a son named Charudatt.
Charudatt was so fond of reading from his infancy that he would care for nothing else. He married his cousin Mrigavati. But even marriage did not change his habit. As Mrigavati lit the lamp in her bedroom, Charudatt would sit down with a book and spend the whole night reading it. He did not care for his wife’s presence, nor did he seek her company.
Bhanu and his wife were very much perturbed by the abnormal behavior of their son. They tried various remedies, all without success. Charudatt remained an inveterate bookworm and would care for nothing else in life. After much consideration, his father thought of engaging a public woman to change his son.
It is always a bad thing to indulge in one bad habit to uproot another. this may rid you of one to make you a slave to the other. But in his anxiety to cure his son of his reading habit, Shreshthi Bhanu never looked at this aspect. A well-known harlot, Vasantsena, was engaged for the purpose, and very soon she was successful. Now the young man was having a good time in her company.
Thus twelve years rolled by. During these years, a vast sum of money flowed out from the merchant’s coffer to reach the hands of the harlot. The merchant was now in severe financial strain. The continued absence of the son from home was an additional pain. But Charudatt would not care to look at his father’s business, nor was he ready to give up the company of the woman. The merchant and his wife died of broken hearts.
A harlot would care for a man only so long as he is a source of her earning, and she would throw him out as soon as he went dry. The relation between the two is not based on love, but on money, and so it does not take time to terminate.
Charudatt was penniless, so Vasantsena turned him out of her abode. The young man returned home and saw it in a bad state. His parents were dead, and the mansion was about to crumble down. Affluence was no longer there. It was all a reign of poverty in his one-time prosperous home. This was a great shock for the young man. He sat down on the steps and bewailed for the great misfortune.
When Mrigavati heard the sob, she came out to find her own husband, and she took him in. She consoled him with sweet words, made him take a bath and served him food.
After he was somewhat consoled, she said: “There is no use in lamenting over what is past. I have some ornaments. You may raise money with them and start some business. The goddess of fortune smiles on one who is enterprising.”
To this, Charudatt agreed. He raised a small amount of money and started for another city in the company of his maternal uncle. They bought some cotton, loaded it on a cart and turned their steps toward Tamralipti. On the way, the merchandise was lost in a fire. They had no more money. The uncle thought, Charudatt is very unlucky. “If I go with him, I won’t have a better turn in my fortune.” So he parted company with him and went on his own way.
Charudatt was now without means of support. Even his fortune would not stand by him. Wandering alone, he reached the city of Priyangu. There, a merchant named Surendradatt, who happened to be an acquaintance of his father, who recognized him and took him to his house. There he stayed for some time.
One day, he found that some people of the city were preparing to go on a voyage, Charudatt also decided to go with them. Surendradatt discouraged him, but he would not listen.
The ship with Charudatt and the others on board cast anchor at an island where all the merchants did their business. Charudatt also did the same and earned a sizable amount. He was now anxious to return home, so he started back with the money he had earned.
Luck disfavored him again. The ship was caught in a storm on the sea and was lost. With it went down Charudatt’s entire fortune. He saved himself with great difficulty by swimming ashore with the support of a floating plank. He now reached the outskirts of the city of Rajpur, where he sat under a tree, taking stock of his life.
A traveler was passing by that way. Charudatt saw his brilliant face and felt that this must be some uncommon personality. He folded his palms and wished him a good day. The traveler stopped to look at him. When he saw him in a pitiable condition, he said: “Why do you look so sad and downcast, young man ?” Charudatt narrated his story.
The traveler took pity on him and took him along with him. Charudatt expected no danger from him. Danger, however, comes without giving notice, and it comes in a manner and at a time when it is least expected.
After they had covered some distance, the two reached a dense forest. There was a hill in it, and there was a cave in the hill. The man opened the door of the cave, and the two entered into it. As they proceeded inside the cave, they reached a well which was emitting a very foul smell. The man handed over to Charudatt a hollow gourd and said: “I shall lower you inside the well. You fill this up with the juice that is stored inside and pass it on to me. Then I shall take you out.”
The man lowered Charudatt into the well. Now he was near the juice. As he extended his hand to fill up the gourd, he heard a voice from inside the well, “Gentleman, please don’t take not juice.”
Charudatt replied: “Sir, whoever you may be, I am to inform you that I am Bhanu Shreshthi’s son. At the bidding of a fellow traveler, I have come down to take the juice from this well. You will excuse my disturbing you and be good enough to permit me to take a gourd full of juice.”
The voice replied: “I was a sea-roving merchant myself. Once I was a victim of a shipwreck and saved myself by swimming ashore. I met this same traveler, who induced me to come with him. After we had reached here, he lowered me into this well. Then he took the gourd full of juice from my hand, but he dropped me into the well. Now it is impossible to get out. This juice is dangerous to the body, and my end may not be very far off. That’s why I warned you not to touch it. Give me the gourd. I shall fill it and pass it on to you.”
Charudatt gave him the gourd, which the man filled up and returned. The traveler now pulled up the rope. The traveler said to Charudatt: “Give me the gourd first. Then I shall take you out.” Charudatt said: “You have to take me out with the gourd.”
The traveler was vexed at these words. He took both of them out, but he pushed both back into the well. But he was cautious because of the prior warning. He caught the support of the earthen ring inside and stood halfway from the juice. But, as there was no possibility of his getting out, he started brooding over his past. As he did it, he felt very bad.
But time is the best healer, and after some time, his agony had somewhat abated. It occurred to him that it must be all a play of Karmas accumulated in the past, and it was not known what other hardships were still in store. He went on brooding and at last he thought of giving a turn to his life by changing its course in the spiritual direction. He then thought of the Arihantas, the Siddhas, the Munis and the Religion as taught by the Kevalis. He took the vow to desist from sinful acts, went on fast and became immersed in meditation.
The man who was already in the well said the following soothing words to console him: “On the third day from today, a cow will come here to drink from this well. If, at that time, you can catch hold of her tail very fast, there may be an escape for you.” This gave a ray of hope to Charudatt, and he became more alert not to miss the chance. After passing this information, the man inside the well breathed his last.
On the third day, the cow came there. Having drunk from the well, as the cow was about to return, Charudatt caught hold of her tail and jumped out. He sat for a while to chant the holy Navakar Mantra.
Hardly had he gone a little far when a wild buffalo chased him. Charudatt ascended a hill. The buffalo sat on the passage waiting for him to come down. But good luck prevailing, a huge cobra came out of a cave in the hill and swallowed the buffalo. Charudatt now came down.
After he had crossed through the forest, he reached a village. There he met a friend of his father, Rudradatt, who himself was a merchant. Charudatt stayed with him for some time.
But Charudatt’s luck was still in ferment and would not allow him to settle down. Now he and Rudradatt prepared a plan of going to the land of gold. No sooner was the plan ready than the two set out.
They crossed a turbulent river and reached the region where the way ahead was extremely dangerous for walking on foot. Besides, walking didn’t give them speed. So they bought two big he-goats and continued their journey on their backs, but the land of gold was still very far, so Rudradatt said: “If we proceed at this speed, we shall not reach our destination for a very long time. We should devise some means of reaching there early.”
Both started thinking. Soon, however, Rudradatt hit upon an idea. He said: “Well, I have an idea. Let us kill our goats and use their hides to prepare two bags. Then we get inside and lie on the ground. Some big Bharunda bird, greedy for flesh, may pick us up and drop us up in the land of gold. That will make our task very easy.”
The plan did not, however, appeal much to Charudatt. He said: “We passed through a dense forest on the backs of these goats. Should we now kill them ? Life is as much dear to them as to us. These animals too have a feeling of pain. So we should give up the idea of killing them.”
Rudradatt responded: “Well, I don’t understand your mind. These goats are neither our parents nor our brothers. In fact, they are nothing to us. They are meant for our use, and we need to give priority to our own requirements without bothering about what happens to them.”
Charudatt protested again, but Rudradatt said firmly: “I have decided to kill my goat.” No sooner had he said it than he did it. Then he took out its hide.
Now, turning to Charudatt, he said: “You can’t do it, so let me do it for you.” On hearing this, Charudatt came to the goat and said: “Poor animal ! In your previous birth, you must have killed some animal, and so you are going to be slaughtered now. This is the time for you now to renounce the Ashravas (inflow of Karmas) that bind the soul and take refuge unto the Arihantas, the Siddhas, the Munis, and the Religion taught by the Kevalis. Seek forgiveness of all living beings, give up anger, and cultivate a feeling of fraternity to all.” He uttered the holy Navakar Mantra into the goat’s ears.
Rudradatt killed the goat and used the two hides to prepare two leather bags. He entered into one of them and made Charudatt enter into the other. Then they lay on the ground taking their chance.
Now, everything went as expected. Two Bharunda birds descended and picked up the two goatskins in their claws and flew away in the sky. After they had covered some distance, they came across a few more birds of their species. A quarrel ensued between them, in consequence of which the bags dropped down. Luckily, however, Charudatt’s bag fell into a lake, so he remained unhurt. He now tore the bag and came out.
When favorable Karma is about to come up, it brings hope in the midst of darkness. Charudatt’s unfavorable Karma was in the exit phase now.
While wandering in the forest, he reached the top of a hill, where he saw a Muni who was exposing himself to the blazing sun with his arms stretched upwards. Charudatt sat down near him.
Having finished his Kayotsarga (meditation), the Muni said: “Who are you and why have you come here ? This is an island named Kumbhakund, and this hill is named Kakkoda. No one can come here except the Devs, the Vidyadhars, and the flying Munis who are gifted with special powers. There is a deep sea all around this island. How did you cross it ?”
Charudatt narrated his story. On hearing his account, the Muni said, “In this mundane life, difficulties are abound, not well-being. Not even the king of the Devs is capable of transgressing Karmas without experiencing its impact. It will be advisable for you to prevent the influx of Karmas.”
Just at that time, two persons descended there from an air-chariot. They were the Muni’s sons in the worldly life, both Vidyadhars, now residents of the Vaitadhya hills, and both had come there to pay obeisance and homage to their father.
When Charudatt and these two were in the midst of a conversation, they saw another air-chariot rushing through the air. It was so bright that it gave light to all directions. The air-chariot descended onto the hill and from it alighted a Dev, attended by many others. To the surprise of all, he first paid obeisance and homage to Charudatt and then to the Muni.
Enlightening all, the incoming Dev said: “This Shravak (pointing to Charudatt) is my spiritual master. It is because of his great favor that I have attained this divine status. To me, therefore, in matters of paying obeisance, he is Number One.”
When the Vidyadhars asked how this came to be so, he said: “In my previous birth, I was a goat and he was my master. Now, I was slaughtered by his companion, but before he could kill me, this man did his best to help my spirit and chanted the holy Navakar Mantra into my ears, by dint of which I enjoy this status today.”
Having said that the Dev paid him homage again and flew away. The Vidyadhars, on their return flight, restored Charudatt to his city. But before he departed, on the suggestion of the Muni, Charudatt took the vow of imposing zone restriction on his movement from the time he reach his home city, for he confessed that, for want of a vow like this, he had suffered much in life.
On the return journey, Charudatt spent a few days in the company of the Vidyadhars on the Vaitadhya hills and accepted the hand of a Vidyadhara damsel. Then, back in his city, Charudatt, in the company of his two wives, spent the rest of his life happily and worthily, fulfilling the vow he had imposed on himself.

CHANDKAUSHIK - NON-VIOLENCE, LOVE, AND EQUALITY

This is a story about Lord Mahavir when he was a Muni. He used to fast, meditate and also perform penance. He was traveling from place to place, village to village.
Once, Lord Mahavir decided to go to the village of Vachala. On his way, there lived a deadly snake named Chandkaushik, a poisonous cobra. All the people of the villages near that forest lived in absolute terror. It was rumored that Chandkaushik could kill just by casting his evil glance upon a person.
When the villagers learned about Lord Mahavir’s intentions to pass through the forest, they tearfully requested him to follow another route.
Lord Mahavir had no fear and practiced supreme nonviolence. He had no hatred towards anyone and considered fear and hatred as violence of the self. He was at peace with himself and all other living beings. There was a glow of serenity and compassion on the Lord’s face. He didn’t deviate from his route even after listening to the warnings from the villagers.
After a little while he noticed the beautiful green land fading out and uninhabited, deserted and poisoned land came. Trees and plants were almost burnt out so he thought that this must be the land what villagers were talking about and here Chandkaushik may be living. So Lord Mahavir stopped here to meditate. Feelings of peace, tranquillity, and concern for the well-being of every living being flowed from Lord Mahavir’s heart.
Chandkaushik sensed that someone has come near his land, so he came out of his abode. He went in that direction and to his surprise he saw a man standing there. He got furious thinking that how dare he could come this close to his territory ? He started hissing to threaten Lord Mahavir, but he did not know the tranquillity of Lord Mahavir. He became angry and came closer to the Lord and swayed his head, ready to strike. He saw no sign that man would run away or even being threatened.
This made Chandkaushik more angry and he blew poisonous venom towards Lord Mahavir three times. Venom neither affected Lord Mahavir not Lord Mahavir was disturbed in his meditation. Chandkaushik was not ready to see no effect of his venom. Now he was really mad and concentrated all his power and bit his toe. When he looked at the man again he was flabbergasted that not only nothing happened to him but instead he saw Pure, white milk flowed out of his toe.
Lord Mahavir opened his eyes. He was calm and there was no fear or anger on his face. He looked at Chandkaushik in his eyes and seemed to be saying to him: “Understand, understand, Chandkaushik and realize where you are going !!!” There was love and affection in his eyes.
Chandkaushik became calm and he felt as if he has seen such person before. He suddenly perceived the special knowledge (Jatismarangnan) through which he saw what happened in his previous lives. Chandkaushik then realized the truth of life that what have anger and ego done to him. He bent his head down peacefully on the ground.
Lord Mahavir left. Chandkaushik peacefully retreated back to his hole. There he spent rest of his life in physical and mental peace. When he died he went to heaven.
Peace and harmony in the society come from the feeling of love and equality of all living beings. This is Lord Mahavir’s concept of non-violence.