________________
OCTOBER, 1966
"He wants nothing. He has come to see you on hearing your fame.”
"To see me ! But if I don't see him......"
“No, my boy. He is the king, the lord of the land. He protects everything. So you shouldn't disobey him."
“Is he my lord too ?”
Bhadra smiled this time and said, “Yes, my boy."
Salibhadra was a little annoyed. He thought, then there was a lord over him. He was not the lord of all.
"You silly boy !” said Bhadra.
The king went back after seeing Salibhadra. He saw him as tender as šephāli (nuctanthes) flowers and of beautiful complexion. He said, "I have never seen like this in my life.”
But Salibhadra's annoyance persisted--there was a lord over him.
Gaiety did no longer appeal to him, nor did women give him pleasure any more. Everything had gone wrong.
One day Salibhadra told his mother, "I do not like to remain a small lord as now; is it not possible to be one with the Lord of everything ?”
SSW
2000
SX
On hearing this Bhadra trembled at heart. It was for some such apprehension that she had kept her son off from everything. She had not forgotten how in this way one day her husband too had renounced this world.
She said, “Why not?” But the path to be trodden is difficult. You won't be able.”
Salibhadra sets out to receive initiation
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
