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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princess, while the bridal couple was doing the rounds of the holy fire, Parvataka started feeling the terrible effect of the poison. He thought he was going to collapse. He called Candragupta to his side and told him that he was very much near his end. Candragupta offered his help to the dying man but Cānakya conveyed to him his disapproval by putting on afrown. Parvataka died and Candragupta became the master of both the kingdoms.
But Nanda's friends would not let Candragupta rule quietly. They often committed robberies and raided state establishments. Canakya wanted to find out a man who could effectively control and punish them. One of these days, he saw a weaver called Naladama who spent most of his days in burning holes that ants had made in his house. Cānakya was pleased to find the right type in this man. He was summoned to the palace, assured of all protection and told in confidence of the purpose for which his services were being engaged by the king. He was to destroy the whole of the family of Nanda exactly as he destroyed the ants in his house.
Thus Cănakya was successful in fulfilling his own vow. He had completely overthrown the Nanda dynasty and placed Candragupta on the throne of Påt aliputra. Still there was one little thing that annoyed Cānakya, the inhabitants of a certain village had once refused him alms. He had not yet punished them. He must devise a strategy to teach them a lesson. He ordered them to prepare an enclosure of mango trees and bamboos. The villagers accordingly cut the bamboos to prepare the enclosure to protect the mango trees. Cânakya was very angry. He said what he had ordered was only an enclosure for the bamboos and not for mangoes. On this pretext, he ordered the whole village to be burnt down.