________________
212
him unbearable pain. Every one in the family made an attempt to pull it out but failed. Therefore Saurikadatta asked his servants to make a public announcement that any one or any physician that would take the bone out from his throat and relieve him of the pain would be paid a very handsome fee.
Many physicians tried their hand but failed. They gave to him a variety of drugs to make him vomit. They even pushed an arrow into his throat but nothing helped. They all went away but Saurikadatta did not stop spitting and vomitting. His condition was indeed very miserable as the revered ascetic Mahāvira explained to Gautama, who was keen on knowing the cause of Saurikadatta's suffering, that it was not only his personal sin that he was suffering from but also of Siriya (Srika) the royal cook that he was in his previous life. Mahāvira further told Gautama that Saurikadatta would live for seventy years and after his death, he will be sent to the Ratnaprabhā region of the hell. He would then be born as a fish and in the next life time as a son in a merchant family when he will attain liberation.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
