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JAINA STORIES
"Monk Yugandhar has camped for his monsoon stay in a park He will remain without food for all these months By dint of silence, meditation aod kayotsarga, he has already acquired the kevala jnana's
The king duly rewarded the keeper for this message and started with bis people to welcome the mook and pay him obeisance and homage. After the king had met the mook and heard his holy words, he made the following submission:
“Bhante ! How did it so transpire that the astrologer's words proved untrue ?"
The monk-"Oh king ! The famine was really unavoida. able due to the influence of the stars But the reason how it has been averted was not clear to the astrologer"
The king – "Bhante ! I am eager to know the reason, af possible”
The monk-"In this land of Bharata, there is a city named Purimatala There lived a rich young man, who suddenly became ill due to the comiog up of some 10auspicious karnia. No amount of substantial food intake would cure him and his ailment was everyday on the increase One day, in the presence of his spiritual master, he gave up all rich food, sweets, milk products and resolved to live on a coarse diet and physical exercise to control the abdomen. He also courted a celibate life. Very soon, he recovered and was in the very best of health. This helped him even to take greater care of his business and add to his wealth But he did not change the course of his life nor deviate from the yow about food and sex Once, there was a severe famine in the land, and all his wealth was spent to help the people. Now, on completion of that life, he was born as a dera, and has now been reborn as the son of sravaka Subuddhi Because of the birth of this pious soul in your kingdom, ob king, even the inevitable has been averted."
The king took leave of the monk and proceeded straight to Subuddhi's house. He saw the child who was an embodi. ment of divoity He blessed him from the core of his heart and named him Dharmakumar,
