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## The Story of Rohiney
**Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verse 72** | The words of the Lord came to mind. If his form resembles the divine form I heard from Lord Mahavira, then I will tell the truth. If not, I will fabricate a lie. Thinking this, the thief observed his feet touching the ground, his eyelids blinking, his garland of flowers wilted, and sweat and dirt on his body. Seeing all this, he thought, "This is all an illusion." Therefore, he began to think about his answer. Then the divine beings spoke to him again, "Dev! Tell us about your past life, we are eager to hear." Rohiney said, "In my previous birth, I gave worthy donations. I made many pilgrimages. I served and worshipped the Lord and the Guru. I performed many other righteous deeds." The guard interrupted, "Now tell us about your misdeeds." Rohiney said, "Due to constant association with the virtuous, I have not done anything wrong in my life." The guard said, "A man's nature does not remain the same throughout his life. Therefore, reveal any wrong deeds you may have committed in your life, such as theft, adultery, etc." Rohiney said, "Can someone who commits such evil deeds ever attain heaven? Can a blind man climb a mountain?" Hearing his words, they all fell silent and went to Abhaykumar and told him the whole story from beginning to end.
Hearing the whole account, Abhaykumar pleaded with King Shrenik, "Your Majesty! We have investigated this matter in many ways, but we cannot prove him to be a thief. Perhaps he is a thief, but how can we apprehend him according to the law if he is not caught in the act? Therefore, we should release him while upholding the principles of justice." As per the King's order, Abhaykumar released Rohiney. Even the most intelligent people are deceived by those skilled in cunning.
Now Rohiney began to think, "My father unjustly ordered me not to listen to the saintly words, depriving me of the nectar of the Lord's words for a long time. If the Lord's words had not reached my ears, how could I have understood this web of artificial deities and how could I have escaped from their trap so cleanly? I would have been finished by now, beaten by them. Even though I heard them unwillingly, those divine words have become a life-giving medicine for me today. Shame on me! I have rejected the words of Arhan and accepted the words of thieves, fallen for their words, and loved them. Just as a crow prefers to sit on neem trees instead of mango trees, I have preferred my father's words over the Lord's words for a long time. Then I heard a small part of the Lord's teachings, and I received such great benefits. If I had listened to all the teachings with interest, how much benefit would I have received?" Thinking these auspicious thoughts in his mind, Rohiney went straight to Lord Mahavira and, after bowing at his lotus feet, prayed, "Lord! In this ocean of the world, filled with aquatic creatures in the form of terrible calamities, your guiding words act as a great vessel (ship). My uncivilized father, who considers himself a righteous man, has forbidden me from listening to your words until now. Therefore, I, the unfortunate one, have been deprived of the words of the world teacher. O Lord of the Three Worlds! Truly, those men are blessed who, with faith, always drink the nectar of your words with their lips. What a sinner I am, that I blocked my ears with my fingers and crossed this place, not wanting to hear your words. Once, unwillingly, I heard some of your words. It was due to the influence of those mantras that I escaped from the clutches of the king's demon. O Lord! Just as you protected me from death, so now save me from drowning in the whirlpool of the ocean of the world."
The compassionate Lord, hearing his humble prayer, preached to him the pure path of the virtuous, the giver of liberation. Awakened by this, Rohiney the thief bowed and respectfully asked, "Lord! Am I worthy of the path of a monk?" Please tell me." The Lord said, "Rohiney! You are worthy!" Hearing this, Rohiney said, "Lord! Then I will surely accept the great vows." In the middle of this, King Shrenik said, "I have something to say." Then he said to the thief, "Rohiney! Now you are about to be initiated into the Lord's feet, so I forgive you for your misdeeds."