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

Page 158

103
They therefore decided to leave immediately the next day and leave their leader Sailaka to the loose way of life which he, regretably had chosen. They would leave Pánthaka in charge of Sailaka. Under no circumstances they would prevent themselves from following the monk's way of life, however hard and taxing it might be.
Next day they returned all the articles such as seat, board, mat, etc. and told Pānthaka to wait upon Sailaka and left the place. Pānthaka continued to look after Sailaka giving him the drugs and medicines at the prescribed times, serving him food and drink, cleaning his bed of urine, stools, phlegm etc. without getting tired. On the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Kartika, Pänthaka started on a penance for four months and began it with the kāyotsarga posture. As he was performing it, he happened to touch the feet of Sailaka who was lying in his bed there, with his head. Sailaka flew into a temper and demanded who had dared disturb his sleep by pulling his feet. He also threatened the man who had the audacity to disturb the royal sleep with severe punishment. Sailaka obviously had not forgotten his erstwhile royal dignity while scolding his faithful friend Panthaka. Pánthaka thereupon humbly apologised and told him how inadvertently he touched his feet with his head, while doing the kāyotsarga āsana. He repeatedly begged to be forgiven.
When Sailaka noticed the humility of Panthaka, he felt terribly guilty of his behaviour; after having abandoned his kingdom he should in fact have moved into the countryside like any monk and begged for his food. Instead, he was spending his time as king Manduka's guest and enjoying the comforts of a householder. This was terribly wrong and he decided to take leave of the king, return to him all the articles that were given to him. The next day Sailaka moved away with Pānthaka.
The other monks who had gone ahead learnt one of these days how Sailaka, accompanied by Panthaka, had once again taken to the monk's way of life and was actually wandering around abegging, they thought it would only be proper for them to join their former leader. Then they found Sailaka and Pánthaka and all lived