Jain Legend Vol 4

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 29

Listening to this, the royal religious adviser gave them assent to stay in a portion of his building. Varddham na S ri stayed in that portion along with his entourage of disciples. The attendants of the royal religious adviser informed them about the Brahmin houses, from where they would receive the requisite alms. The news soon spread in the entire city that some Vasativ s monks had arrived into the port city. As soon as the Temple dwellers heard this news, they started conspiring to throw them out of the city. They spread a rumour through their sycophants that some spies of a rival king came to A ahillapura Pa a a disguised as monks to seize the kingdom of Durlabhar ja
The sycophants spread the message all over the city, including the royal palace and the court. The news also reached the ears of Durlabhar ja who enquired from his soldiers about the spies. They replied, “Your Majesty! They are in the house of your religious adviser."
The king at once summoned the religious adviser and asked, “The news is everywhere that some spies of a rival king pretending as monks have arrived here. If they are indeed spies, then why did you provide them shelter in your house?”' The religious adviser replied, “Lord! Who is spreading such scandalous rumours against them? If, anyone who whoever is accusing them establishes even a single shortcoming in them, I will give them a lakh p ru yas. Let the person come forward and prove his word.” The entire court fell silent. There was none, who dared to accept his challenge. Then the religious adviser once again proclaimed, "O King! Those monks are reminiscent of the embodiment of religion in a physical form. They do not have even a single flaw in them.”
The King felt relieved and was pleased listening to his religious adviser.
Src rya and the other Temple dweller monks present in the royal court in consultation each other arrived at a decision that those Vasativ ss should be vanquished by means of a religious discourse and should be sent out of the city. Nipping in the bud is the Modha s used by the wise to solve any problem. Thinking thus, they informed the royal religious adviser, “We want to debate with those ascetics residing in your house."
The royal religious adviser replied, “I will ask them and inform their decision to you."