Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 30

and whose identity was not even known to her. In desperation, she showed to him the token that Shrenik had left with her. Abhaya looked at it and immediately made out that his father was the king of Räjgruhi. He joyfully broke the news to his mother and grand parents.
That time, Abhaya was still a young boy. He however decided to lead his mother to Räjgruhi. While reaching the outskirts of the city, he asked his mother to take rest in a garden till he could arrange for a fitting reception for her. That time Shrenik was looking for a capable man to be his prime minister. He deliberately threw his ring in a dry well and announced that whoever could get the ring without getting into the well, would be appointed as his prime minister. Many people had gathered near the well, but no one could think of any trick to get the ring while standing on the platform of the well. While Abhaya was passing by, he enquired about the reason for their flocking together. When he knew about the king's announcement, he said that he could get the ring on king's terms, if he could be provided with what he needed for the purpose. King was amused when he was informed that a young boy had come forward to undertake the job. Still he agreed to let him try and instructed his men to provide whatever the boy needed. Thereupon Abhaya called for fresh cowdung and threw it at the ring. Then he dropped a bundle of burning grass over the dung so as to turn it into hard dry cake in which the ring had tightly set in. He then arranged for diverting a water canal to the well. As the well got full of water, the dungcake with the ring came floating on the surface of water. Abhaya picked it up and got the ring out of the cake.
The king was too pleased when he heard that the young boy from some unknown place had fulfilled his terms. He wanted to see him. As Abhaya was brought in his presence, the king spontaneously felt as if a current of affection was flowing from his heart. He joyfully embraced the boy and asked his name and place of his residence. Abhaya gave his name and said that he was coming from Benätat. Shrenik immediately remembered Nanda and asked Abhaya whether he knew the businessman Bhadra and his daughter Nanda. Abhaya replied that he was the grandson of Bhadra. As Shrenik learnt that Abhaya was his own son, his joy knew no bounds. He warmly embraced him once again and enquired about his mother. Shrenik was overjoyed to learn that his wife whom he had forsaken so long, was waiting just a little away. He arranged for her a reception befitting the queen and mother of the would be prime minister. Thus there was happy reunion of the parents. Abhaykumar, as he came to be known thereafter, was then duly proclaimed as the prime minister of Magadha.
Abhaykumar served in that capacity very long. His intelligence knew no bounds. Number of administrative and political problems arose during the realm of Shrenik. Abhaykumar solved all of them to the entire satisfaction of every one concerned. Even to day, the Jain traders write in their books that they may be endowed with the intelligence of Abhaykumar. Lot of stories are associated with his name.
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Abhaykumar And Ärdrakumar
Away from the Indian main land there was an island. Its king Ardrak was a friend of Shrenik, the king of Magadha. Ardrak had a son named Ardrakumar who was brave, youthful, handsome and well behaved. Once Shrenik sent an emissary to his friend Ardrak with valuable gifts. His prince Ardrakumar had never seen anything from India. He was impressed by the various types of the gifts and was curious to learn about India. He asked Shrenik's emissary whether his king had any son with whom he could cultivate friendship. The emissary told him about Abhaykumar who was the eldest and most intelligent son of Shrenik and was also his prime minister. Ardrakumar was interested to establish friendship with Abhaykumar. He therefore sent to him highly valuable pearls as token of his friendship.