Jain Lesson II

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: Diwakar Prakashan

Page 30

Lesson 6 THE COMPASSION OF LORD PARSHVANATH
Once a hermit named Kāmath was performing a sacrificial ritual on the outskirts of a town. He was wearing a single cloth and had ashes rubbed all over his body. The sun was shining and it was very hot. The hermit had also lighted sacrificial fires all around him. The whole town was amazed by the austere performance and people came in big groups to see him. They were bowing down to Kāmath with reverence and he was blessing them.
Seeing groups of people going, Prince Pārshvanāth got curious to see what was going on. He went there. He was astonished by the hermit's austerity. Soon, with his extra sensual power, the prince noticed a snake burning in a log of wood. Prince Pārshavanāth felt pity for the hermit who was unknowingly indulging in the gross violence. Prince Pārshavanāth said, "Oh Hermit, what are you doing? Do you realize that there is a snake burning in the fire? This is not a good ritual that you are performing."
After hearing these words, the hermit got very angry. He shouted, “Oh naughty child, what do you know about this holy ritual? You are very rude."
Prince Pārshavanāth ignored the hermit. He asked his servant to pull out the log and split it open. To everyone's surprise a half burnt snake fell out of the log. The hermit felt ashamed and his face turned pale. The Prince recited the Namokār Mantra to the dying snake. The snake thanked the Prince in his mind and died peacefully under the impact of Namokār Mantra. Due to the snake's serenity while listening to the Namokār Mantra, he was reborn as Dharanendra, the king of heavenly angels.
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Jain Education Interational