$JES 202 Jain Story Book Level 2 Book

SR No.: 000121
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 160
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Jaina_Education, 0_Jaina_education, & JAINA Books
File Size: 22 MB

Page 48

PART II GANADHARS AND ÄCHÄRYAS
09 - Ächärya Sthulibhadra
The kingdom of Magadha, in the state of Bihar, possessed a long and rich history. During Mahavir's time, it was ruled by King Shrenik of the Shishunäg dynasty. This dynasty ended with the death of Shrenik's great-grandson Udayi. Magadha then passed into the hands of the Nanda dynasty. Nine generations later, Dhanänand ascended the throne. This was around 300 BCE, about 200 years after Lord Mahävir's nirväna.
The greedy Dhanänand was far from being a just and noble ruler. He had heard a legend about hidden treasure that belonged to one of his predecessors and was desperate to get his hands on it. Unfortunately, he had no idea where this treasure was hidden. However, he knew that the old Prime Minister Shaktäl, who had served his father, had knowledge of the treasure's whereabouts. Dhanänand therefore tried everything he could to get the information from the prime minister and locate the treasure, but Shaktäl refused to provide any information about the whereabouts of this treasure. The King therefore forced him to retire and the administration was entrusted to other ministers.
Kumär Sthulibhadra enjoying Koshä's
Shaktäl was a wise, highly respected person in the kingdom. Many scholars and high ranking officials admired him and were eager to consult him on important matters. However, they avoided communicating with him because they feared that the King would not approve.
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Shaktäl had seven daughters and two sons, Sthulibhadra and Shriyäk. Sthulibhadra was smart, brilliant, and handsome, but unambitious. From a very young age, Sthulibhadra had watched the performance of a beautiful dancer named Koshä in Pätliputra, the capital city of Magadha. Eventually, they fell in love. Though his family disapproved, Sthulibhadra was deeply in love and left home at the young age of 18 to live with Koshä. He was infatuated with her and abandoned all interest in his career and other family members. King Dhanänand had intended to appoint him to a high position in the court, but Sthulibhadra declined the offer. The King therefore appointed his younger brother, Shriyäk, to the position.
As time passed, things began to look grim for Dhanänand's reign. The citizens of Magadha witnessed major political upheavals and turmoil. People felt dissatisfied with the current regime and looked for the end of the Nanda dynasty. King Dhanänand felt insecure and was suspicious of all his ministers and advisors, including Shriyäk and his father Shaktäl.
dance
Aware that the King was very suspicious of him, Shaktäl became worried about the political future of his younger son. Shaktäl therefore decided to sacrifice his life in order to provide proof of Shriyäk's loyalty to the King. He requested his son, Shriyäk, to kill him in the presence of the King and other ministers. This way, the King would have proof that Shriyäk was a very loyal minister. Prior to the execution, he explained to Shriyäk that he would swallow some poison so that Shriyäk would not truly (morally and religiously) be responsible for his father's death. Meanwhile, the King would feel that Shriyäk was very loyal to him because he had seemingly killed his own father for the King. Thus, Shaktäl died seemingly at the hands of his own son in order to prove his son's loyalty.
When Sthulibhadra learned about that tragic event, he was taken aback. By that time, he had spent twelve years with Koshä and had never cared for anyone else. His father's death opened his eyes, and he started reflecting on his past. "Twelve long years of my youth! What did I get during this long period?" Sthulibhadra realized that in his youth he had not acquired anything that would endure. The tragic death of his father brought home the reality that
JAIN STORY BOOK