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Nandi Sootra
Nandishen and his wives were also in the group. When he listened to the discourse of Bhagavan Mahavir a feeling of detachment arose in him. After seeking permission from his parents he got initiated into the religious order. Intelligent Nandishen soon absorbed all the knowledge of Angas with the help of his teachers and started preaching to contribute to the spread of religion. A few days later he sought permission from Bhagavan Mahavir and left Rajagriha.
For a long time he continued his itinerant way. One day ascetic Nandishen felt that one of his disciples was attracted towards mundane comforts. After due consideration he decided to go to Rajagriha. When king Shrenik was informed of his arrival he was much pleased and came to pay homage to the ascetic. All the, members of his family came with him and that included the former wives of ascetic Nandishen.
When the wavering disciple of Nandishen saw the astonishingly beautiful former wives of his guru he got awakened and was filled with self reproach. He thought - "My guru has become ascetic after renouncing royal grandeur and divinely beautiful wives, and is following the codes of conduct with absolute sincerity. And I am wavering under the attraction of ordinary mundane life, insignificant in comparison. Curse me, who is ready to eat again what l vomited. This deeply agitated state of mind inspired him to do atonement and be firm on the spiritual path.
7. Dhanadatt - For the story of merchant Dhanadatt see chapter 18 of Illustrated Jnata Sutra, Part II.
8. Shravak - Inspired towards religious life a man accepted the twelve vows of a shravak. One of the vows was to be content with his own wife. For many years he remained firm in his vows. However, once he happened to see a friend of his wife and got infatuated with her beauty. The desire to get that woman kept on increasing and his natural modesty did not allow him to reveal it. This disturbed state of mind had a telling effect on his health. His worried wife one day got to know the cause of his pain after much persuasion.
She was very intelligent and patient. She quietly thought - "If my husband continues to be tortured by these base thoughts he will one day lose his life. As a consequence of his despicable attitude he will have a bad rebirth. Therefore, I should do something so that he comes out of his present state of mind and regains the spiritual path." With these thoughts she made a plan and accordingly said to her husband - "My lord, I have talked to my friend. She will come to you tonight. But she belongs to a respectable family and feels shy to come openly in the light. Therefore she will come only when it is dark and return back before the dawn." The shravak was relieved.
The shravika, according to her, plan, went to her friend's house and brought from her the dress and the ornaments she was wearing when she had last come to the former's house. In the darkness of the night she put on her friend's dress and ornaments and went to her husband. Before the dawn she returned to her room and changed to her normal dress.
In the morning her husband got up and came to her. He was filled with deep remorse and started repenting - "I have indulged in a despicable act. I have committed the great sin of breaking the vow laccepted." When the wife saw that her husband was genuinely repenting she told him everything and reassured him. She also inspired him to once again be firm on his resolve of observing the vows of a shravak. The shravak underwent a change of heart. He went to his guru and after Aagam- 44 - Nandi Sootra
~ 86- Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
