I am Mahavira

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 45

I AM MAHĀVĪRA
my kingdom."
Once, I went to Vaishali while on my wanderings-on-foot. The king Cetaka came to listen to my sermons there.
He asked me, "O Lord, you have attained an equanimous state. Nevertheless, you teach us to win over enemies. I have won many wars. Still I feel my mind does not seem to be purified. Does this mean that I have not won over my enemies?"
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WHO IS ENEMY?
In response, I told a story to the king Cetaka.
"A king had two sons. One was proficient in scriptural learning. The other was proficient in armoury. However, he was quite indifferent to it. Once, the enemies invaded the kingdom. The king sent his son to fight against them. He defeated them. On this occasion, there were festivities throughout the kingdom.
"One day, the bravery and heroism of this son was narrated in the court of the king. On listening to all this, his younger brother told the king." Oh, is it something to be called as bravery? Any body could defeat the external enemies. However, the true hero is he who could win over the internal enemies."
The king told his son, "O my son, there is peace all-around