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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The boy took to criminal ways and found himself one of these days in a settlement of thieves where he met the four hundred and ninety nine thieves that were none else but his companions from the earlier life. The girl found her way to a village which was soon enough raided by the same band of thieves. They caught hold of her and raped her but out of sheer consideration for their unfortunate victim, they thought it better to get another girl because they felt it was cruel to torture one girl like this. They succeeded in procuring another woman but the first girl did not relish the idea of having a rival. She was therefore very keen on finding the right occasion to get rid of her. One day when all the robbers were away on a raid, she tricked the new woman to look deep into the well where they went to fetch water and as she bent over the edge, she tripped her in. When the men came back and asked where the other woman was, she snapped back, "Why can't you find her yourself ?" They suspected that she must have done her in. Then the male slave from the Brahmin family who had got himself into the company of the thieves had a feeling that the wicked woman who had pushed the other one into the well was probably his sister.
The man who had felt like asking a question to the great lord Mahavira was none else but the slave from the Brahmin family. When the question was regarding a woman, the Kevala-jñāni, the allknowing Mahavira rightly knew the context and confirmed that "that she" was indeed his sister.
Mahāvira's remarks created a feeling of worldweariness in the man's mind and he sought solace by becoming a monk.
The story, which Mahavira narrated, impressed the queen so much that she immediately declared her intention to take to the holy way of life if the great Master who was kind enough to initiate her but in any case she would first seek king Pradyota's permission who was present at the meeting. He felt so much overpowered by the presence of so many divine personages and eminent men at the meeting there that he could not say 'no' to the queen's request. He even agreed to be the custodian of her young son. She accepted the initiation and king Pradyota's other eight queens also followed suit.
The man who had first asked the question went out to spread enlightenment amongst his other companions in thievery.