________________
363
where are their affection and respect for me gone? Without caring for me, they run about their own affairs. They do not assemble round me as they did in the past. The place allotted to me for taking rest (sleeping) is the last one near the door so that while going out or coming in they disturb me all the time. What sort of behaviour is this towards me ? At dawn, I shall return my monk's garment to Bhagavān Mahavira".
In the morning, as he stood before Bhagavān Mahavira, the latter know his mind by dint of his omniscience and said,
"Meghakumarā ! Last night, you had such and such thoughts in your mind, and you have made up your mind to go back to your palace-home by handing over the monk's pot, duster, etc. Is it correct?"
''Bhunte! Every word of what you have stated is correct".
In order to refix him in necessary restraint, Mahavira gave him necessary advice and spoke to him revealing his life in the previous birth whereon Meghakumara was refixed in restraint.
Meghakumara acquired the knowledge of his previous birth. He studied and mastered 11 Angas. He practised the most difficult of penances named guna-ratnasamvatsara and also 12 pratimas. In the end, with the permission of Mahavira, he courted death by a long fast unto death, and was born as a god in an excellent existence.
10. Nanda - In the Buddhist tradition, a new initiate named Nanda (the Buddha's Cous in) underwent a similar predicament as did Meghakumara in the Jaina tradition. Remembering the final entreaties of his newly-wed bride Janapada-Kalyani Nanda, he was shaken immediately after his initiation. The Buddha came to know this and went to reclaim him. The Buddha pointed to a shemonkey on the street whose ears, nose and tail were cut, whose hairs were burnt, whose skin was wrecked and blood dropped therefrom, and said,
