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KING SHRENIK'S DESTINY
30 - King Shrenik's Destiny
Once, in response to King Shrenik's question about his next birth, Bhagawan Mahävir stated that he will go the hell. On further inquiry as to the reason, Bhagawan Mahävir pointed out the following incident by which King Shrenik had acquired that type of Ayushya karma. Once the King had gone hunting. He spotted a fleeing deer. The King spurred his horse and pursued it. Ultimately he located it taking a rest under a tree. He wielded his arrow with all his might. The arrow pierced the body of the deer thereby killing the deer as well as the unborn child in its body, but after coming out, the arrow pierced the trunk of the tree and came out on its other side. Instead of feeling regret for the violence, the King felt proud and highly elated at his powers. The feeling of too much arrogance for the gross violence caused him to acquire the karma leading to an infernal life. The King remembered the incident. He felt very sorry for what had happened at that time. He was anxious to wipe out that karma and asked Bhagawan Mahävir what he could do about the matter. Bhagawan Mahävir pointed out that his karma was indelible and was bound to become operative at the right time. Such intense karmas cannot be erased without bearing the fruits. The rule of karma is supreme and no one has any authority over its operation. King Shrenik could not reconcile himself to this fate. He repeatedly asked Bhagawan Mahävir for some way to avert going to hell. Bhagawan Mahävir said that there are ways to avert, but the King would not be able to successfully exercise any of them because of the indelible nature of his karma. The King insisted to know about the ways,
King Shrenik asking for one sämäyik punya
from Puniä Shrävak
JAIN STORY BOOK
109
