Atimukta and Arjun Malakar Diwakar Chitrakatha 059

Author(s): Virendramuni, Sanjay Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

Page 34

VIJAY THIEF
One day a servant named Panthak was taking out Devadutt for playing. The boy was adorned with costly dress and ornaments. At that time a thief known as Vijay kidnapped the boy. He took his costly dress and ornaments and threw him in a deep well. The boy died. Panthak informed Dhanna of the kidnapping who, in turn, at once informed the city guards. On investigation the body of the boy was found in the well. Following the trail the guards caught the thief Vijay who was hiding in dense shrubs. They beat him up and put him in the prison.
A few days later merchant Dhanna was also imprisoned for some minor offence. Thief Vijay and Dhanna merchant were put in the same shackle. Dhanna's wife Bhadra sent rich food to the prison for Dhanna. When Dhanna started eating, Vijay demanded some items to eat. How could Dhanna give food to the killer of his son? Therefore, he refused. Later when Dhanna wanted to go for nature's call he asked Vijay to come along. As the two were tied in the same shackle one could not move without the other. Vijay refused, "I have gone without food and water; so I will not go. If you want you may go alone." For some time Dhanna tried to contain the urge. But how long could he? At last Dhanna had to promise Vijay to share his food before he agreed to go along.
Panthak was the servant on duty to take food for Dhanna to the prison. When he saw Dhanna sharing food with thief
Vijay, he thought, "What sort of person this merchant is? He is sharing his food with the murderer of his child." On his return the servant informed Dhanna's wife of this. She became angry that her husband was nurturing the killer of her son. After some time Dhanna was released. When he reached home and saw his wife in anger he asked. "Are you not happy that I am back from the prison." Bhadra said, "You shared food with the killer of my son, that is why I am angry." Dhanna explained, "I did not offer him food as my duty or charity but to facilitate the unavoidable nature's call." This satisfied Bhadra and she was relieved of her anger.
n Rajagriha city a merchant named Dhanna lived happily with his wife. After a long time and a lot of prayers the couple got a son. They named him Devadutt.
Message The merchant was forced to share food with the killer of his son. In the same way a spiritual aspirant has to nurture his body with food and other essentials in order to facilitate spiritual practices. As Dhanna gave food to a thief to fulfil his essential need, an ascetic eats food merely to facilitate pursuing his spiritual goal. This important message has been lucidly presented in this tale.