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DECEIT/HONESTY
King Hans
King Hans of Räjpur, India was a very fair and just king. He was honest and practiced nonviolence in his daily life.
his royal robes and jewelry and gave them to his servant. While walking through the forest the king and the servant somehow got separated.
On Mount Ratnasringa there was a beautiful temple dedicated to the first Tirthankar, Rishabhadev. King Hans decided to pay homage to that temple. He asked his council of ministers to look after the kingdom during his prolonged absence and left with the members of the royal household on the spiritual mission.
As the king walked further into the forest he saw a deer running. Soon thereafter a hunter came running with a bow in his hand and asked the king if he had seen the deer. The king thought that if he told the truth the deer would be killed. Therefore, he decided not to answer the question and talked of irrelevant things. The hunter was very upset with the king's answers and left.
A few days after King Hans departed King Arjun, a neighboring king, attacked Räjpur. After a fierce battle, King Hans's army was defeated and many of his generals lost their lives fighting for their kingdom. King Arjun gained control of the palace and the treasury. He occupied the royal throne and enforced his authority over the entire kingdom. King Hans heard the story of this defeat on the way to the temple. The king's courtiers were very upset and advised the king to return to the city. The king said, “I have given up the control of kingdom and am on a spiritual mission. That is the only thing we should be thinking about. Let us continue on our journey to the temple.” The king's courtiers were unhappy about the king's decision and worried about the safety of their families at home. One by one everyone left the king. However, one faithful servant followed the king.
On the way to the temple the king and his servant got lost in the forest. Now, concerned for their safety, the king took off
After a while the king was tired and decided to rest under a tree. While he was resting he overheard a group of people who were
88 Jäin educatior
THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM
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