Jain Stories

Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 2

SHALIBHADRA (Detachment)
[2] SHALIBHADRA
(Detachment)
TIRATE
கோனார்
(1) After the death of Noble Shalibhadra's father, he became a heavenly deity and started sending 99 boxes of heavenly food, clothes and ornaments daily to Shalibhadra. Despite such affluence, when Shalibhadra heard once from his mother that "King Shrenik is our master", he developed the sense of detachment and he decided to renounce the world. Every day, he started leaving his wives one after the other. (2) Shalibhadra's sister Subhadra was the wife of Dhannaji. While she was bathing her husband, out of love for brother Shalibhadra, she started crying. Dhannaji asked reason for crying, she told him about Shalibhadra's abandoning his wife one after the other. Dhannaji remarked "What a coward!!" If he wants to renounce the world, then why not leave all the wives at one go?" Subhadra replied, "It's easier too said than done. "Dhannaji immediately left the house and went to call Shalibhadra. (3) Dhannaji told Shalibhadra "If you want to renounce then both of us renounce the world today itself". (4) Both went to God Mahavir and be-came Monks and thereafter underwent rigorous penance. (5) When Shalibhadra was going for alms-Bhiksha, Lord Mahavir told him that today he would receive Bhiksha from his mother. When he reached the palace none could recognize him because of his frail body. While returning empty handed, he happened to meet a milkmaid who was his mother in his previous birth. Out of motherly love, she offered him curd. (6) He fasted on Mount Vaibhavgiri till death and left for heavenly abode (Anuttarviman). Hearing this, his mother moaned and cried for him. King Shrenik consoled and calmed her down and saluted her for being a mother of a great monk. Bravo to renouncing of all the riches by Shalibhadra!!!
Inspired By: Jain Acharya Shri Bhuvanbhanusuriswarji Maharajsaheb