Book Title: Jain Stories 03
Author(s): Mahendramuni, K C Lalwani
Publisher: A B Jain Shwetambar Terapanth Samaj

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Page 159
________________ BANKACHULA 149 (3) look on the first queen as your own mother; and (4) never take a crow's meat. "If you follow these four rules which I prescribe, then you will have only prosperity throughout your life" Bankachula agreed and saw the monks off It was summer Bankachula started with his men to loot a certain village The villagers got the information in time and left the village with all their belongings When the robbers came, they found only empty houses So in great disappointment, they left But they were hungry and thirsty because of the day's hard labour They took shelter under a tree Some men went out in search of some fruits and luckily they got them on a tree The fruits were ripe and juicy and had a very attractive flavour and spread them before their chief what the fruits were, but none among his men knew its name Then said Bankachula, They brought them Bankachula enquired "Well, I am bound by a vow not to take an unknown fruit. So I cannot take these " We are "But, sir, we are in a very difficult situation here and we should not attach much importance to vows utterly famished and we must save our life If we live, we will have ample time in future to observe our vows Said he, 23 But Bankachula did not yield "To my mind, it's not enough that we honour our vows only under favourable conditions They are to be observed under all conditions, howsoever adverse That's the real test Let my life be in danger, but till I know their name, I cannot take them, whatever the consequence در Bankachula remained firm in the observation of his vow He did not touch the fruits All his men except one ate to their heart's content and lay down to take rest After some time, Bankachula asked them to get up, but not a single person stirred When he bent to give one a severe jerk, he found that all of them except one were dead. Bankachula found that his vow had saved his life

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