Jain Journal 1972 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 16

SRENIKA-BIMBISARA
-In the light of the Jaina Agamas and Buddhist Tripitakas
(Continued from the previous issue)
MUNI NAGRAJ
Once king Srenika was sitting near Lord Mahavira in the samavasarana (preaching-hall). At that time a leper, with his body rotten, came there, bowed, and sat down near the king. Just then Lord Mahavira sneezed and the leper said, "Die". When Srenika sneezed, the leper said, "Live". Abhayakumara also sneezed. The leper said, "live or die". The great butcher Kalasaurika sneezed and the leper said, "Do not live nor die". The king, being angry asked his soldiers to seize the man. But before the soldiers could lay their hands on him, he flew up in the air and became invisible.
Being confounded, the king asked Lord Mahavira about the whole episode. Mahavira replied, "The leper was none other than a god in disguise and whatever he uttered was highly significant. He asked me to 'die', for I have already attained liberation. He told you to 'live' because after death you will be born in hell. He said to Abhayakumara 'Live or die', because he practises dharma in this life and will take birth as a god in the Anuttaravimana, the highest of heavens, after death. When he said to the butcher Kalasaurika 'do not live nor die', the significance was that the butcher was devoted to evil deeds while living and would go to the seventh hell after death."