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The Story of Rohiney
Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verse 72 | "Who will do it?" Upon hearing his son's words, Lohkhur was overjoyed. He stroked his son's head and said cruelly, "Look! The Mahavira preaches Dharma in the Samavasarana created by the Devas. Never listen to his words. You are free to do whatever you want besides that." Thus, having assured his son, Lohkhur died. After performing his father's death rites, Rohiney surpassed his father. He too began to steal day and night, as if he were another Lohkhur. Heeding his father's command, disregarding his own life, he stole in the city of Rajgriha like a slave's son.
Once, while traveling through villages and cities, the last Tirthankara, Bhagwan Mahavira Swami, accompanied by 14,000 sadhus, arrived in the city of Rajgriha, his lotus feet resting on a golden lotus. The Devas and Devis of all four realms together created the Samavasarana.
One day, the Lord was preaching in his Yojanagamini, nectar-showering voice, which could be understood by all languages. By divine chance, Rohiney was going towards Rajgriha for some work at that time. The Lord's Samavasarana was on the way. Therefore, Rohiney thought, "If I go by this route, I will surely hear Mahavira's words, which will also violate my father's command. But there is no other way either." Thinking this, Rohiney covered his ears with both hands and hurried towards Rajgriha. In this way, while going, one day, he suddenly stepped on a thorn near the Samavasarana. Due to his haste, the thorn went deep. He felt great pain. He could not move without removing it. Consequently, he removed his hands from his ears to remove the thorn and took them down to his feet to pull it out. During this time, the Lord's words reached his ears - "The Devas remain four fingers above the earth without touching it. Their eyelids do not blink, their garlands do not wither, and their bodies do not have dirt or sweat." Hearing this, he began to repent - "Oh! I have heard so many words, damn me!" Saying this to himself, he quickly pulled out the thorn, covered his ears with both hands again, and continued walking. In this way, he, the thief, came and went to Rajgriha every day and stole.
One day, the wealthy people of the city came to King Shrenik and complained - "Your Majesty! We have no other trouble in your kingdom, which is ruled by a just king like you, but there is one great hardship, that thieves steal our wealth and disappear. Even after searching, we cannot find them." Hearing the suffering of his subjects, King Shrenik, who was grieved like a brother, angrily said to the Kotwal, "It seems you are neglecting the thieves, becoming their partners, eating my salary, and doing the work of the thieves. In this way, the people's wealth is being stolen day by day." The Kotwal said sorrowfully, "What should I tell you, Dev! There is a thief named Rohiney who is looting the citizens. He is so cunning that he jumps like a monkey, like the flash of lightning, from one house to another, and from there he easily crosses the fort. We reach there, but by then he has disappeared. We take one step, he takes a hundred steps. We have no control over catching and killing that thief. It is difficult to even see him, let alone catch him. If you wish, you can take our authority as Kotwal from us." Hearing this, the King, with a gesture of his eye, signaled Abhaykumar to catch the thief. He said to the Kotwal, "Kotwalji! Today, keep the Chaturangini army ready outside the city. When the thief enters the city, surround him with the army from all sides. He will be caught like a frightened deer, while being electrocuted inside. Therefore, when he comes, as soon as his arrival is known from the sound of his feet, let the alert soldiers catch that great thief." "Your command is on my head." Saying this, the Kotwal left from there. The intelligent Kotwal secretly prepared the army. By coincidence, Rohiney had gone to another village that day. Therefore, he did not know about the army's encampment outside the city, and just as an unaware elephant falls into a pit, Rohiney fell into the army's encirclement and was caught. He entered the city along with the encirclement. By this strategy, the thief was caught and tied up, and the Kotwal...
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