Jain Heritage and Beyond

SR No.: 006519
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 174
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Spiritual
File Size: 37 MB

Page 152

Shälibhadra
Once upon a time, there lived a poor woman and her son in a small village. One day, there was a festival in the village and all the kids, including the poor boy, were playing together. After playing, all except the poor boy, started to eat Kheer (rice pudding) that they had brought with them. The poor boy did not have Kheer to eat. He felt bad and ran home to his mother. He asked her if she would make some Kheer for him since all other children were eating it. His mother said that she could not make Kheer and told him to eat whatever she had cooked. He started crying and insisted on having Kheer. His mother could not bear to see him cry. Therefore, she went to a neighbor's house and borrowed some milk, sugar, and rice, and made Kheer for her son. She poured the Kheer into a dish and left to bring some water from the well.
As the boy was about to start eating, he heard the words, “Dharma läbha" (meaning, may you be blessed with spirituality, usually spoken by Jain Sädhus and Sadhvis when they arrive at a lay person's house for Gochari - food). He saw a Jain Sädhu at the door. Without hesitation, the hungry boy invited the monk in and offered him the Kheer. He poured all the Kheer from his plate into the monk's container. He was happy that he could offer this to the monk even though nothing was left for him to eat. His good intentions and his pious action helped him earn good Karmas.
In his next life he was born as Shälibhadra in a very rich family. His life was like being in heaven. His parents were Bhadra Shethäni and Gobhadra Sheth. His father had renounced the world to become a monk when Shälibhadra was a young boy. His mother provided him all the comforts and luxury and never let him out of the palace for fear that he might become a monk like his father. It was said that even the heavenly beings were jealous of his lavish lifestyle. When he grew up, he was married to 32 beautiful women.
The boy is happily offering Kheer to the monk
One day, some merchants from Nepal came to town to sell some very exquisite diamond studded shawls. They went to King Shrenik's court where the king told them that he could not afford to buy such expensive shawls. The merchants returned from court in utter disappointment because they were hoping to sell some shawls to the king. The merchants also thought that since the king could not afford to buy any then none of his people would have enough money to buy their shawls in this city and decided to leave town.