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NINETEENTH CHAPTER: PUNDAREEK: INTRODUCTION
Title-Pundariye-Pundareek-a name. This story of King Pundareek and his brother, Kandarik, stresses the futility of the semblance of spiritual practice without one's heart in it and the importance of sincere effort. No matter how long and tough a penance is, if the mind is not detached from the carnal indulgences, attachment, and aversion it bears no fruit. However the mind that is free of attachment and aversion reaches its goal even in the darkness.
Gist of the story-The king of Pundarikini city in Mahavideh area, Padmanabh, had two sons-Pundareek and Kandareek. When the king desired to renounce the world he crowned Pundareek and made Kandarik the heir apparent. After some time a senior ascetic arrived in the city and both the brothers went to his discourse. King Pundareek became a Shramanopasak and Kandareek desired to become an ascetic. When he sought permission from the king he was told that the king wanted to put him on the throne and so he should not get initiated. Kandareek did not agree to the proposal and got initiated. He commenced the harsh itinerant life but got sick.
When after some time he came to the city the king saw his ailing condition and made arrangements for his treatment. When Kandareek regained his health the senior ascetic left the city with his disciples, but Kandareek stayed back as he was enslaved by the food and comforts. King Pundareek came and persuaded him to follow the proper ascetic code. At the king's request Kandareek resumed the harsh ascetic life. But he once again. could not tolerate the hardships and returned to the city. This time the king asked him if he still had desire for mundane pleasures. When Kandareek replied in affirmative the king crowned him and himself renounced the world.
As soon as Kandareek got the kingdom he went all out for rich food and comforts. As a result of all this he got sick and embraced death. As a result of his feelings of infatuation for carnal pleasures he reincarnated in hell.
Pundareek went out in search of a guru after his self-initiation. He got formally and properly initiated when he found his guru. As he ate stale and tasteless food when he broke his long fast, he got sick. When he realized that his end was near he did Pratikraman (critical review of the past deeds) and took the ultimate vow. After his death he reincarnated as a god and from there he will attain liberation after being born in the Mahavideh area.
CHAPTER-19: PUNDAREEK
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