Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
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

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102
and leave their property etc. to their eldest sons. The new king Manduka made arrangements for a magnificent renunciation ceremony. In due course of time, Sailaka studied eleven angas, observed the various fasts to the satisfaction of his teacher Suka. Suka then left Sailakapura and after having visited many places in the neighbourhood, finally reached the Pundari ka mountain where he attained salvation.
Sailaka could not really get reconciled to the harsh way of life as a monk. He thought the food coarse and insipid. His bed was hard and the surroundings very often dirty. He was soon afflicted with skin eruptions, got burning sensation inside his body and developed bilious fever. He became emaciated. In such a condition, he came to his own town and camped in Subhūmibhāga Park. Large numbers of people came to listen to his discourses. King Manduka also went there and when he saw the condition of his father, he requested him to stay in one of the humble abodes of the king and undergo medical treatment by expert physicians, he should eat wholesome food and live in clean surroundings. Sailaka did not hesitate to accept the proposal. His five hundred disciples headed by Panthaka also accompanied him and the whole entourage lived as king Manduka's guests. The royal physicians treated Sailaka with proper medicines, clean food and drink. They even prescribed the use of alcoholic drinks. Sailaka's disease was cured in no time and he recouped his health very quickly but he became attached to this easy life and got addicted to drinks. His life hereafter was ill-behaved, careless in respect of all discipline; he was attached to pleasures and came to have loose character. Even after he had regained normal health, he would not think in terms of taking leave of king Manduka and going back to the monk's way of life.
The five hundred monks thought a great deal about Sailaka who had abandoned his life as a king, became a monk but now has reverted to the luxuries of food and drink and has lost his claims to be our leader. Then they blamed themselves for having stayed in the capital for such a long time knowing fully well that it was not proper for the monks to stay at one place for such a length of time.