Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 11

no alternative route to reach Sumandirpur and therefore insisted upon their right to pass through. As Surendradatta did not give in, there was a war between the two. A fierce battle took place. Both the parties fought very valiently but in the end Surendradatta lost and surrendered. Meghrath thus got possession of that country. Thereafter the wedding party safely reached Sumandirpur. There, the king Nlhatshatru organized a grand marriage ceremony and both the princes got married.
After some time, king Ghanrath decided to renounce the worldly life. Thereupon he gave his throne to Meghrath and Draihrath was made the heir apparent. Meghrath ruled over the country very well. He was a just ruler and established complete justice in his kingdom. Every one lived happily and peacefully under his rule. He was also very truthful and never broke his promise. His brother Dridhrath had regard for Maghrath and helped him in every respect.
Meghrath was highly religious and observed all the restraints appropriate to a house holder. Once it so happened that while he was observing Paushadh, he saw a pigeon rapidly rushing towards him. It was very scared and took shelter in his lap. King could not make out the cause of its fear. As he was curious about it, the pigeon said that it was in dire need of safe shelter. The king guaranteed that and told it not to feel any way afraid. Soon after a hawk came there and demanded the pigeon. The king said that the pegion had sought his shelter and he could not hand it over to any one. The hawk said that he was very hungry and needed the pigeon for his food. The king suggested that there are many other eatables and the hawk should desist from taking the life of any being for the sake of hunger. The hawk said that he was non-vegetarian and could not eat anything but meat. He added that if the king did not hand over the pegion, he would die of hunger. The king would then be responsible for his death.
The king said that it was not possible for him to betray the promise of shelter given to the pegion. He however offered to the hawk meat from his own body equivalent to the weight of the pegion. The people got scared by that offer. The hawk however agreed to accept the offer. Thereupon the king called for a scale. He put pegion in one pan and in the other he started putting meat cut from his body. Amazingly, the pegion was too heavy and the king had to put more and more meat from his body to counterbalance its weight. As the meat so cut was not found enough, he ultimately put himself in the pan. Then the scale got exactly balanced.
This spread a shriek of terror in the hearts of all present. Everyone felt aghast. No one was willing to accept that so benevolent a king should sacrifice his life for the sake of a pegion. No one knew what was going to happen next. People wanted to save the life of their beloved king. Within their minds they were earnestly praying for the long life of the king. Then all of a sudden they noticed a heavenly being. He said that he had heard about the truthfulness and the justice of the king and wanted to test it. Pegion and hawk were part of his contrivance for the purpose. He was glad that the king lived true to his reputation and deserved all compliments.
Meghrath ruled long thereafter. At the later age he too renounced like his father and became a monk. His brother Dradhrath and many others also renounced with him. As a monk he observed all possible austerities and penance. At the end of life he observed Anashan and went to heaven. Later on he was born as the prince of Hastinapur. In that life he got known as Lord Shantinath,
the 16th Tirthankar.
(5)
NAMI RAJARSHI