________________
06
to govern your kingdom in accordance with those vows and to take Diksā, after you have fully passed youth. ”
Kundarlka said, “ Brother ! Whatever you say is quite true. But I must act fully up to my utterances. I will undoubtedly have Diksā. Saying so, he took Dikşă.”
Puņdarika was prevented by his ministers, and so he continued to govern his kingdom as a house-holder with the ideas of an ascetic.
Kundarika was mortifying his body with various severe penances, and he always acted strictly in accordance with established usage. He was very popular with his companian Sadhus
One day, however, near the approach of spring-time, the mind of Kuņdarika became wavering. He thought, “ I have nothing to do with this afts Cāritra Dharma,- the duties of an ascetic. I will accept the kingdom which my brother was offerring me before.
With these ideas supreme in his mind and with a dejected heart, Kuņdarika went to the capital city of his brother, began to roll, here and there, on a cool bedding of green leaves under a tree in a pleasure-garden, and he tied up his utensils and other articles serviceable for an ascetic-life, to the tree, and kept them hanging there. He sent word about his arrival there, to his brother King Pundarika thru the watchman of the garden. The King went there with his minister and bowed down before him.
On seeing the bedding of green caves and all his belongings hanging on the tree, the King inferred that his brother Kundarıka had left off Căritra Dharma. Addressing his minister, King Pundarika said “ Perhaps you remember that I tried to prevent Kuņdarika when he rashly became
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org