________________
King Anaranya's Mokşa
The first Tirthankara Lord Rşabhadeva laid the constantly aware that kingdom is nothing but a road very foundation of the social, cultural and religious to hell and hence rule until appropriate situation does aspects of human life. His virtuous son Bharata was not rise for renunciation a cakravarti - sovereign king. He had many illustri
King Anaranya and King Sahasramśu of ous sons; one amongst them was Adityayasa, the
Mahişmati were good friends, life prospers on allifounder of Sūrya dynasty. Many dignified kings were
ance with a good friend. The characteristic of a good born in his lineage. During the regime of twentieth
friend is his sincere friendship and geniality. He does tirthankara, Munisuvrata svāmi, a very considerate
not desert his friendship even during ardous times. king, Anaranya, ruled the kingdom of Ayodhyā. He
Friends who praise on the face but are back stabbers granted asylum to several kings and also helped his
are fit to be forsaken like a bowl of poisoned milk. A loved ones to be debt free. He fathered two sons
good friend always inspires to lift oneself spiritually. namely, Anantaratha and Daśaratha, through his con
Both the kings, Anaranya and Sahasramśu shared prosort Prthvidevi.
found friendship. That was why one day both vowed As a fact, it is too ardous to adhere self duties to renounce together in life. Once, there was a war as a king. Generally, unrestrained power and author- between King Sahasrāmśu and Rāvana, the king of ity makes a person immensely arrogant and ego- Raksasa dynasty, wherein King Sahasramíu was decentric. Such a ruler unleashes a reign of terror on feated. At that moment, his father Muni Satabāhu, who his poor subjects. A humble king without arrogance had renounced the world earlier, arrived. King abhors sins and unjust, and values piousness and Sahasraṁsu accepted Diksā - renouncement under religion, the cause of infinite exultation. Rulers re- his aegis. He sent the news of his becoming a saint pulsive of their children like subjects not only under- to his friend through a messenger. mine human values but also indent the dignity of Ksatriya's. However, such kings can alleviate the plight of their subjects by abandoning their gratuitous arrogance. The cause of sorrow is sin and adharma-unjust act, while that of joy being virtuous acts, piousness and religion - the cause of Moksa. Rulers considering the power and kingdom as ephemeral and transitory, yearn asceticism by renouncing their kingdom. They are
PB.50 Jain Education International
King Sahasransu's messenger near King Anaranyawjainelibrary.org
