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F02 Story - Ganadhars and Ächäryas
04 - Ächärya Sthulibhadra
04 - Acharya Sthulibhadra
The kingdom of Magadha, in the state of Bihar, possessed a long and rich history. During Mahävir's time, it was ruled by King Shrenik of the Shishunäg dynasty. This dynasty ended with the death of Shrenik's great-grandson Udayi. Magadha then passed into the hands of the Nanda dynasty. Nine generations later, Dhananand ascended the throne. This was around 300 BC, about 200 years after Lord Mahävir's nirvana. The greedy Dhanänand was far from being a just and noble ruler. He had heard a legend about hidden treasure that belonged to one of his predecessors and was desperate to get his hands on it. Unfortunately, he had no idea where this treasure was hidden. However, he knew that the old Prime Minister Shaktäl, who had served his father, had knowledge of the treasure's whereabouts. Dhanänand therefore tried everything he could to get the information from the prime minister and locate the treasure, but Shaktäl refused to provide any information about the whereabouts of this treasure. The king therefore forced him to retire and the administration was entrusted to the other ministers. Shaktäl was a wise, highly respected person in the kingdom. Many scholars and high ranking officials admired him and were eager to consult him on important matters. However, they avoided communicating with him because they feared that the king would not approve of this. Shaktäl had seven daughters and two sons, Sthulibhadra and Shriyak. Sthulibhadra was smart, brilliant, and handsome, but unambitious. From a very young age, Sthulibhadra had watched the performance of a beautiful dancer named Koshä in Patliputra, the capital city of Magadha. Eventually, they fell in love with each other. Though his family disapproved, Sthulibhadra was deeply in love and left home at the young age of 18 to live with kosha. He was infatuated with her and abandoned all interest in his career and other family members. King Dhananand had intended to appoint him to a high position in the court, but Sthulibhadra declined the offer. The king therefore appointed his younger brother, Shriyak, to the position. As time passed, things began to look grim for Dhananand's reign. The citizens of Magadha witnessed major political upheavals and turmoil. People felt dissatisfied with the current regime and looked for the end of the Nanda dynasty. King Dhanänand felt insecure and was suspicious of all his ministers and advisors, including Shriyak and his father Shaktäl. Aware that the king was very suspicious of him, Shaktäl became worried about the political future of his younger son. Shaktäl therefore decided to sacrifice his life in order to provide proof of Shriyak's loyalty to the king. He requested his son, Shriyak, to kill him in the presence of the king and other ministers. This way, the king would have proof that Shriyak was a very loyal minister. Prior to the execution, he explained to Shriyak that he would swallow some poison so that Shriyak would not truly (morally and religiously) be responsible for his father's death. Meanwhile, the king would feel that Shriyak was very loyal to him because he had seemingly killed his own father for the king. Thus, Shaktäl died seemingly at the hands of his own son in order to prove his son's loyalty.
When Sthulibhadra learned about that tragic event, he was taken aback. By that time, he had spent twelve years with Koshä and had never cared for anyone else. His father's death opened his eyes, and he started reflecting on his past. "Twelve long years of my youthful life! What did I get during this long period?" Sthulibhadra realized that in his youth he had not acquired anything that would endure. The tragic death of his father brought home the reality that all life comes to an end. "Is there no way to escape death?" he asked himself. "What is the nature of life after all? Who am I, and what is my mission in life?"
Thinking deep into these questions, he realized that the body and all worldly aspects are transitory, and physical pleasures do not lead to lasting happiness. He looked at his image in the mirror and noticed the unmistakable marks of a lustful life. Having realized that he was wasting his youth, he decided to search for lasting happiness. He left Koshä and went straight to Acharya Sambhutivijay, the sixth successor to Lord Mahävir. Surrendering himself to the Acharya, he said that he was sick of his lustful lifestyle and wanted to do something worthwhile with his life. The Ächärya considered his request carefully. Here was a young man of thirty who seemed to have lost the vigor of youth. The lustful life he had led had taken a
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015
