Five Gems Diwakar Chitrakatha 031

Author(s): Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

Page 20

The merchant asked
Bahu, how did you know all this?
The merchant was filled with self recrimination
DEC
Father, I was told all this by a sage. Also that I have no fear of becoming a widow. That is why I acted as I did.
Indeed, I am a great sinner, a violator of trust. I committed a great sin by grabbing the wealth of a Brahmin and was punished for that.
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See, what bitter fruit he got for an act of deception.
THE LESSON: In the second vow a shravak resolves-"I will not misappropriate something entrusted by someone." Violation of trust is a great sin. The person who is deceived gets agitated and sad. A feeling of animosity arises. It gets so deep that it precipitates in the form of vengeance for many births. This tale from ancient Jain scriptures teaches us to avoid the great sin of violation of trust.
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THE END.