Jain Journal 1975 10

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

Page 53

ACT V
(Place : Village Morak. Time : Evening. Direction : Mahavir Vardhaman is sitting under a Banyan-treebare-bodied, legs crossed, soles on feet turned upwards (Padmasan). Near him is standing his brother, Nandivardhan. The place is quiet and deserted]
Nandivardhan : So you have turned a mendicant ! With great difficulty,
I could search you out here. Wherever I went, I was told you had left that place and moved ahead. I went to Kamari village, but did not find you there. I was told that a milkman there gave you lot of trouble. He had left his bullocks in your custody; on his return he did not find them with you. They went astray while grazing, and you were absorbed in your meditation--when he enquired about them, you did not reply. Next morning, the bullocks themselves returned and sat by your side. When the milkman saw the bullocks by your side, he thought you knew their whereabouts all the time and purposely withheld the information from him. He attacked you in a fit of anger, but you remained quiet and unperturbed. Then you shifted your quarters to village Kollag. When I went to that village, I was told that you had left from that place also. Ultimately, I found you here in this village Morak. Now I find that you have no attachment left and have turned a recluse.
Vardhaman :
Brother, I had made the resolve much earlier ; only the execution of it has been so much delayed. I had made a promise to my parents that I will not become an ascetic in their life-time. Now that they are no more, there was nothing left to bind me to the life of a house-holder.
Nandivardhan : How about Yashoda ?
Vardhaman :
She has always obeyed me implicitly. She also wanted to become an ascetic along with me. She had gone to her parents for some time. I thought it an opportune time to give up all worldly ties and become a recluse.