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AJATSHATRU KUNIK
Man's needs are very limited but his desires are unlimited. Even with all physical comforts at his command, he continues to be driven by ambitions. As a consequence he faces hardships and invites anguish, anxiety, and stress. When desires expand they become ambitions. The spark of ambition could be traced at the root of every war, bloodshed, murder, struggle, and conspiracy prevailing in the world. A man driven by ambition is devoid of feelings of religion, morality, love, fraternity and even normal human emotions.
The name of Ajatshatru Kunik, the son of King Shrenik Bimbsar of Magadh, finds mention in Indian history as a highly ambitious emperor who reigned some 2500 years back. He was highly impressed by the life and preaching of Bhagavan Mahavir. He even had a high degree of reverence for and faith in Bhagavan Mahavir. But the history he created under the overpowering drive of his unbridled desires presents him as a ruler with excessive imperialistic ambitions. In Jain literature he is mentioned as Ashokchandra Kunik and in Buddhist literature as Ajatshatru Kunik. Driven by his ambitions Ajatshatru fought wars against his own brothers and not only destroyed a divinely beautiful city like Vaishali but also colored it crimson with blood. For this dastardly deed Bhagavan Mahavir negated all his pretensious religious worship and made him aware of his next hellish life.
In this story incidents from the life of Ajatshatru have been compiled from various Jain sources. This biographical sketch inspires the reader to control his desires and ambitions.
The author of the script is Shri Tarun Muni ji, the disciple of Up-pravartak Shri Amarmuniji M., the disciple of Uttar Bharatiya Pravartak Bhandari Shri Padmachandra ji M.
- Srichand Surana Saras"
Written by: Shri Tarun Muniji
Managing Editors: Dr. Mansukhbhai Jain, Sanjay Surana
Compilation: Srichand Surana 'Saras'
English Translation: Surendra Bothara
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