________________
THE FOURTEEN-FOLD PATH TO FREEDOM
199
parents or other people at the palace where they had spent their early years. When the time had come for them to return, a great party was organized to welcome them. Both the family and the people in the city had prepared a big feast. Ministers were sent ahead to receive Kul-Bhushan and Desh-Bushan outside the city and to accompany them to the palace. In the city there was a joyous and excited atmosphere everywhere when the parade passed by on its way to the palace. In front of the palace their mother and other family members were ready to give them arati – a hand-held copper plate with butter flames which is turned around slowly before a guest or deity as a greeting. On the balcony of the palace stood a young and very attractive woman who threw garlands of flowers at them. Both brothers at once decided that they wanted to marry her. Independently they shared their desire with a minister. He however did not answer. When both the brothers discovered that the other had the same desire a big argument broke out. It became so fierce that they drew their swords and were ready to attack each other. Then the minister could no longer contain himself, and said: “Stop that nonsense, she is your sister!" "What!" they shouted. “We had no sister!” “When was she born?” And the minister told them that soon after they had left the palace the rooms were filled with the sound of a crying baby – a girl – and this was her. They could not move because of the remorse they felt about the sin they had committed by desiring their own sister. Immediately they both vowed to do uninterrupted penance until they reached the highest enlightenment (moksha). They observed their vow strictly, finally attained moksha, and left their bodies on the Kuntha Hill in what is now the province of Maharashtra, where today we can still see their charanas - carved footprints - engraved in the rocks.
Penitence or penance has nothing to do with a psychological guilt complex or self-castigation. It means that someone takes upon himself the vow to accelerate his spiritual path and to make no more effort to escape his karma. He knows that
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
