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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Kausāmbi boy did not understand exactly what had happened to cause such terrible grief to the woman. Finally when she explained the unfortunate turn of events, the boy offered to do the portrait of the Yaksa himself. He would willingly lay down his life for the loving and generous family. But the old woman would not accept the offer. She said she hated the idea of sending her guest to his death but the boy would not accept any of her arguments.
He observed the very strenuous fast of the sixth meal, wore new clothes, covered his mouth with a piece of cloth which was folded eight times, collected clean water in new vessel and went to the temple. He first washed the idol of the Yaksa clean with the pure water he had brought and sat down to do the portrait with a set of new brushes and fresh pigments from new bowls. After the painting was over he fell at the feet of the Yakṣa and begged to be forgiven for whatever shortcomings that might have crept in. The Yaksa was greatly pleased with the boy and asked him to name whatever blessing he wanted. The boy requested the Yaksa to save the lives of all artists by discontinuing the queer custom of killing them after the portraits have been done. The Yakṣa replied that the fact that he was still alive should indicate that he would leave all artists hereafter unharmed, and further suggested that the young man should ask for a boon for his own personal benefit. The young painter then asked for the blessings of the miraculous art of doing the complete portrait of a person or animal that went on two feet or four or even crawled without feet merely on the basis of a single glance at any part of its body. The Yakṣa willingly granted it to the young artist.
The Kausambi boy went back home to the Saketa family safe and whole and narrated to them how he managed to come back. The story reached the ears of the king of Säketa and he invited the boy to the palace and bestowed upon him great honours for the great service that he had rendered to all the members of his fraternity. Soon after this the boy went back to his parents in Kausāmbi.
Satanik was the king of Kausāmbi at that time. On one occasion, the king asked one of the foreign envoys whether his