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Dharmaghosa addressed all his disciples by way of a funeral oration on Dharmaruci, whom he described as a gentle and well trained monk who observed all the prescribed fasts and rituals most meticulously. He told how he had aone to the house of Nāgasri who gave him by way of alms a whole bowlful of the stuff which brought about his end. Dharmaruci according to his master had led the life of an ascetic for many years, confessed and expiated all his sins. He could easily attain deep concentration of mind and the venerable monk expressed his confidence that Dharmaruci, their departed friend, would soon be re-born as a god in the Sarvarthasiddha Mahāvimāna which is situated above the Saudharma. It is said that the minimum duration of life of some of the gods there is thirty three sägaropamas and the god Dharmaruci, after his residence there, would achieve salvation in the Mahavideha Varsa. Even then the monk Dharmaghosa did not prevent himself from mentioning Nägasri, who according to him was unfortunate, sinful and undesirable like the Nimba fruit.
All his disciples repeated the same bitter words of their Master about Nāgasri, who was responsible for the death of Dharmaruci. The Brahmins of the town, who heard this report from almost every one feit furious and went to Nāgasri to reprimand her. They said she was evil, she was sinful, wretched and as bitter as a Nimba fruit. It was particularly wicked to have given the poisonous stuff to
armaruci on the day he was breaking his monthly fast. They all abused her, admonished her in severe terms, even beat her and drove her out of the house. On the streets, she was mocked and ridiculed, blamed and censured, beaten and hurt and spat upon every one at all places like city squares and circles and cross-roads. The poor woman had no place to go to. Her clothes were torn to tatters. She earned her living by begging from door to door. She was so dirty that swarms of flies always attacked her and in time to come, she harboured sixteen diseases in her body including cough, cold, uterine disease and even leprosy. When she died, she was re-born in hell as a hellish being in the Sixth Earth where she was condemned for twenty-two Sagaropamas. After this period was over, she was re-born as a fish. When she was hit by a weapon and died a death of torture, she was again re-born in hell where
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| SR No. | 006762 |
| Book Title | Treasury of Jain Tales |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | V M Kulkarni |
| Publisher | Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre |
| Publication Year | 1994 |
| Total Pages | 468 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 17 MB |