Illustrated Namokara Mahamantra

Author(s): Shreechand Surana, Surendra Bothra
Publisher: Diwakar Prakashan

Page 30

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THE DELIVERANCE OF THE PAIR OF SERPENTS
This is about three thousand years old episode. The king of Varanasi (Benaras) was Asvasena. His queen was Vamadevi and their son was prince Parsvakumāra.
Once, riding a horse young Parsvakumara went out of town. At a place he saw a large crowd. The prince approached there and found that an ascetic was busy in the five-fire penance. On four corners of a square logs of wood were burning, he was sitting within the square and the noon sun was scorching him from the top (the fifth fire). Hundreds of people were standing around him watching.
The thought that the prince has come for his darśana (to visit to pay respect) boosted the ego of the Kamatha ascetic. The people around also started singing his praise. At that moment the prince pointed at the logs and told his servants. "Look there, a live pair of snakes is burning in that big log in the fire. Take it out and save the snakes."
As the servants approached the fire to take out the log the ascetic warned them, "Stop there! I am doing the five-fire penance. If you try to disturb, I shall burn you to ashes."
Soberly the prince said, "O worthy ascetic! What sort of penance is this? Live snakes are burning in this fire and you are not even allowing to save them. To burn a being is not penance. Pity and compassion should be essential part of every penance."
The Kamatha ascetic turned red with anger and stared at prince Parsva with burning eyes. But the fearless and compassionate prince ordered his servants, "This is not the time to argue. Save the snakes at once. Bring them out of the flames."
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