Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust

Page 174

C. N. Patwardhan
how did you lose all those riches of yours.” The father said- “Son, since you left home, we lost all our wealth as one does his penance through harsh words. Some was taken by robbers, some was burnt by fire and some was confiscated by the King for offences committed by my sons. After losing all we had, we were ashamed to stay there, and came here. Your elder brothers are sitting outside. They were brought in by the men. They said: “ We have done nothing good. Forgivo us, O you treasure-store of merits." Dhannya forgave them and sent them to another town after bestowing money upon them. Through the influence of Dhannya they again became rich. Dhannya handed over all household cares to his parents, and enjoyed life with his beloved trio as does a God with his nymphs. :Upon one ocoasion Subhadra was weeping while bathing Dhannya, Dhannya said to her: “ Deer-eyed one, why do you weep?” “My beloved,” she said: “ I have a brother named Shalibhadra. He became dissatisfied with the world on hearing about religion from the preceptor Dharmaghosha. He was thinking of taking orders when his mother said to him affectionately: "Such a life is a very hard one, my dear, for you who have been brought up amid amenities. But if you are determined upon it, then give up the attachment to pleasures little by little, so that your body may become trained for the ascetic life.' In accordance with his mother's desire he daily cut down his wants, namely food, ornaments, scents, tambol, pastes and so on. Thus detached from every enjoyment, he subsisted on ambila-food without salt; he wore one cloth and slept only on ground. Thus he would now surely take to orders. This life of Shalibhadra is a source of sorrow to me."
Dhannya laughed and said: “Surely, dear, that man was a coward and not hero, because he could not bear rules and restrictions all at one time:” Thereupon Somashri added: "That delicate one was not a coward, my lord, he makes his body gradually accustomed to severe austerities." Dhannya said: "What is difficult for a hero, which, once he determines to achieve it, he does not succeed?” Somashri smiled derisively and said to Dhannya: “If it is not difficult, why do you not do it yourself, my lord ?” Dhannya said: “ If you three tell me to take to religion, you would see atonce whether I could do it.” At once they in a joke
Shatabdi Granth ]
.: 95.