Jain Lesson II

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

Page 68

coins and I was always late. So last night, I got up very early in order to be the first one. But that did not work, and here I am before you as a culprit."
The king said, “You have suffered so much for just two gold coins. Oh Brahmin, I am pleased with your honesty and permit you to ask for anything that you want and I shall grant it."
Kapil asked for sometime to think. The king gave some time to think. He left to go to the garden to think.
Now Kapil started thinking, “I Should ask for ten golden coins instead of two. But how long will that last? I should ask for fifty coins. But that won't be enough for later expenses." He continued to think of more and more amount until he reached to ten million coins. He thought even that would not be enough for maintaining prosperity for his whole life. He then thought of asking for half of the kingdom and ultimately the entire kingdom.
Suddenly he thought, “The king has been kind enough to give me whatever I want. Why should I make him miserable? That is not fair. If I ask for half of the kingdom, I will be his rival. Why should I annoy the person who wants to help me? Should I then ask for ten million golden coins? What is the use of that much money? Too much money brings troubles. I will ask for ten thousand coins." But his conscience did not permit him even to ask for ten thousand. "Shall I ask for one thousand coins? A hundred? A fifty? A twenty-five?" He decided not to ask for anything more than what he had gone for that was only two gold coins.
But Kapil still kept on thinking, "It is desire that makes one unhappy. It also leads to greediness which is the root of all sins. In order to get rid of it, I should ask for nothing.
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