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BRAHMESHANANDA: JAIN ĀCĀRYA STHULABHADRA
85
There are thousands of self-controlled people living in high mountain caves and in the solitude of deep forests. But the son of Shakadala alone maintained perfect self-control while living in the vicinity of young maidens in exceedingly beautiful surroundings.3
At the end of four months the monks returned to the guru. He complimented the first three monks saying, 'Dukkhara', meaning that the vow they had fulfilled was indeed difficult. But when Sthulabhadra came, he went seven steps forward and greeted him saying, 'Atidukkhara', meaning 'most difficult'. Unfortunately, the three monks became jealous and decided to equalize with Sthūlabhadra by staying at Kosha's house during the next rainy season! So the remaining eight months flew by because of their eager expectation.
With the advent of the next rainy season, the monk who had lived near the den of a lion went straight to Kosha's house, against his guru's prohibition. Kosha immediately realized that the muni had come out of animosity towards Shūlabhadra, and decided to teach him a lesson. She entertained himn till he was excited with passion and then she proposed that he should bring a precious ratna-kambala (a costly shawl embroidered with jewels) from the king of Nepal and present it to her. Only then would she satisfy his carnal desire.
The infatuated monk, abandoning, all sense of shame, went to Nepal and brought the shawl with great difficulty. Kosha wiped her feet with the costly ratna-kambala and threw it into the drain. When the monk protested at her throwing away such a precious shawl, Kosha retorted, 'Why, after having obtained this rare human birth, are you not throwing away the priceless carita-ratna (the jewel of character) for my body which is nothing, but a bundle of filth, faeces, urine and other dirty substances?' The muni at once realized his fault, shook off his infatuation, thanked Kosha and returned to his guru. He consessed his guilt, undertook penance for the transgression and began to practise severe austerities.
Around that time a terrible famine lasting twelve years ravaged the whole of North India. It was a period of severe crisis for the whole
3.
auisfa for yeri faurat antara वासंथयन्तो वशिनः सहस्रशः । हर्थेऽतिरगये युवतीजनान्तिके at #: T: FIGHT: 11 Ibid.
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