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NandiSootra
Kosha was filled with joy when she saw Sthulabhadra once again in her house. She made arrangements for his stay in her dance chamber and provided all comforts. Sthulabhadra commenced his spiritual practices.
The efforts of evoking feelings of lust and excitement were at their best. She started all out efforts to divert attention of meditating Sthulabhadra using her beauty and art. Sthulabhadra was well aware of the transitory nature of the pleasures derived out of mundane indulgences. He also knew about the inevitable process of their ultimate conversion into a long chain of sorrows.
In spite of the all out efforts by Kosha this practicer of the path of eternal bliss remained unmoved and unwavering. Instead, the tranquil radiations emanating from Sthulabhadra in the serene meditating posture finally cleansed Kosha's aberrations. Sthulabhadra gave sermon to Kosha and accepting the vows she became a shravika.
At the end of the monsoon stay the four practicers returned to the guru and paid their respects one by one. In praise of the first three the acharya said - "You have been successful in tough spiritual practices." When Sthulabhadra bowed, the guru said in praise - "You have accomplished a very high degree of spiritual perfection. "This special praise for Sthulabhadra made the other three jealous and they looked for an opportunity to prove themselves equal to Sthuhbhadra.
That opportunity came at the beginning of the next monsoon stay. The disciple who had spent the last monsoon-stay in a lion's cave approached the acharya and sought permission to spend this monsoon stay in Kosha's chamber. Even after the acharya's refusal he was obstinate enough to go to Kosha who was considerate enough to give him permission to stay. In a few days the ascetic forgot all his vows and practices and got infatuated with the beauty and charm of Kosha. When he expressed his desire to Kosha she was sad. Kosha decided to bring him back to the right path and said - "Great ascetic,
I am a courtesan. Even to qualify to express your carnal desire for me you have to pay one hundred thousand gold coins to me."
When he heard this, the ascetic became thoughtful. He said - "I am a mendicant who has renounced the world. I lon't have even a single penny with me." Kosha said - "The king of Nepal gives a gem studded shawl to every visiting mendicant. Its price is one hundred thousand gold coins. You may go to Nepal and bring that shawl for me."
A man consumed by lust forgets what is good or bad for him and is prepared to do anything. The ascetic forgot all about his discipline and practices and left for Nepal. After a lot of hardships and suffering he reached Nepal and got the shawl from him. On the way back some bandits deprived him of the shawl.
He was still not free of his obsession. Not caring for the hardships, he once again returned to Nepal and begged another shawl from the king. This time he concealed the shawl in a hollow staff. Avoiding bandits and suffering all hardships when he at last reached Kosha he was extremely weak and emaciated.
With the hope that his desire at last is going to be fulfilled, he handed over the shawl to Kosha. Kosha smiled at his emaciated body, wiped her feet with the shawl and threw it on a heap of trash.
The perplexed ascetic uttered - "What have you done Kosha? I brought this shawl for you after suffering so much pain and you have thrown it on a heap of trash?" Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra
- 93 Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
