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 320

68. AN OLD MAN FROM KONKANA AND HIS SON
An old man from Konkana renounced his worldly life and persuaded his son to do likewise. The son agreed but was not enthusiastic about the new way of life and he went on complaining to the father that he could not live without this, that or the other. The old man always felt a deep affection for his son and gave him a pair of slippers when he complained that he could not walk without footwear. Then he complained that the upper part of his feet was being affected by cold and the father gave him a pair of shoes and when the son complained that his head was paining, the father gave him a covering for the head but the son's complaints would not end. He said, he did not like moving around begging for food. The father brought him food though both were in a monastery. The young son then said, he could not sleep on the floor and the poor father procured him a mat. The son's complaints were never ending. He went on to say that he could not remain without a bath, he could not wear the clothes that were permitted nor could he bear the pain when he pulled out his hair and the fond father tried to set right things for him as far as possible. He let him use a razor while shaving his head and for his bath he managed to get some clean water; he even went to the extent of procuring clothes that usually a headteacher wears.
As time passed, the son instead of getting reconciled to the austere way of life of monks was shameless enough to tell the old man that he could not live any longer unless he satisfied some of his sinful desires. Now the old man could stand it no more. He was