$JES 203 First Step of Jainism Level 2 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 98

COMPASSION
Meghakumär
King Shrenik and Queen Dhärini had a beautiful prince named Meghakumär. He grew up in great riches and a loving atmosphere. At the age of eight his parents sent him to school. He became proficient in 72 arts. He became a scholar of eighteen languages, a proficient exponent of music, dance and drama, a brave warrior, and a skilled commander.
During that time Bhagawän Mahävir arrived in Räjagriha city and stayed in a nearby temple. When Meghakumär heard about Mahävir's arrival he decided to visit the temple and pay his respects. Meghakumär listened to Bhagawän Mahävir's sermon. Mahävir explained how karma binds to the soul, how the body suffers due to these Karma, and how the soul gets liberated. Upon hearing this discourse Meghakumar decided to renounce the world and to become a monk.
He requested his parents to permit him to become a monk. They tried to persuade him to wait until their death before taking Dikshä. They pleaded with him and explained the harsh life a monk (Shraman) has to lead: walking barefoot and eating the food obtained only by collecting alms. They tried to tell him that he was born to enjoy the pleasures of life and not to suffer the pain. When Meghakumär's parents failed to dissuade him they requested him to be the king for a day. They wanted to see him enjoy the kingdom and its wealth for at least one day. To honor his parents' wish he accepted their request.
98
Uain Exlnternational
After accepting Dikshä from Bhagawän Mahävir and listening to his first sermon as an ascetic, Meghakumär got ready for bed at night. Being the newest ascetic he was allotted the last place near the gate. During the night many monks kept going in and out and bumping Meghakumar with their feet in the dark. He could not sleep all night and started thinking of his life as a prince and how he had received honor and respect. In the life of a monk, he did not receive that honor and respect. On the contrary accidental kicking by the other monks all through the night disturbed his sleep. At dawn he went to Bhagawan Mahavir to tell him about his decision to resume the life of a house-holder. "Bhagawän," he said, "I think I will be going home today.'
Mahävir said, "Before you return home I am going to tell you a story of an elephant."
Once there was a great big fire in the forest where you were living. Upon seeing the fire you attained Jätismaran Jnän (knowledge of previous lives) and you remembered
THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM