Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 39

burglar. In smartness he even surpassed his father. It was almost impossible to recognize him, when he was in disguise. If some one pursued him, he could run so fast that no one could catch him. He could even jump over the walls when necessary. He committed burglary mostly from the houses of noblemen and rich people and hid the treasure of his burglaries in the most unexpected and more or less inaccessible places. To the poor, he extended help from the wealth that he had so accumulated. Many of them therefore felt grateful and were pleased with him and were not willing to help the Government officials in tracing him out.
Lohkhur was now very old and could see that his life was soon to come to the end. When he was on his deathbed, he called Rohineya by his side and said that he was very happy with the expertise that he had shown in committing burglary, which had been their ancestral profession. In order to stay successful, he however advised his son never to listen to the sermon of Lord Mahavir, because His teachings were not conducive to their profession. Rohineya promised his father to abide by his advice. So Lohkhur could breathe his last with the sense of satisfaction.
After he died, Rohineya extended his burglary on a large scale. So much so, that it became almost impossible for the well to do families to experience safety of their property, if they were required to go out. All the time, they had to stay afraid that Rohineya would reach their home during their absence and take away jewelry and other valuables from the house. Such people once came to king Shrenik and requested him to take some effective action to protect them from Rohineya's burglaries, since police officers had failed to do anything in the matter. The king therefore asked Abhaykumar to undertake suitable action for getting hold of Rohineya.
Once it so happened that while Rohineya was secretly on his way to Räjgruhi, he had to pass by the side of Lord's assembly. He remembered his father's advice. He therefore put his hands on his ears in order to prevent the voice of the Lord reaching him. Unfortunately however, a sharp thorn pricked deep into his foot that very time. He had therefore to take off his hands from the ears for taking out the thorn. That time words of the Lord reached his ears. He heard following words: 'Human life is the best of all lives. It is possible to attain liberation only during human life. Every human being can attain salvation irrespective of caste, creed or color. By virtuous deeds one would gain life in heaven where there are all sorts of material pleasures and happiness. The heavenly beings move above the ground and their feet do not touch it. Their bodies are shadowless; their eyes remain steady and their garlands do not wither. That life however does not lead to ultimate liberation that provides eternal bliss. Therefore heavenly beings too crave for obtaining human life.' By that time Rohineya removed the thorn from his foot and covering his ears with his hands once again, he proceeded towards the city..
Since being entrusted with the task of trapping Rohineya, Abhaykumar had secretly arranged for posting trained soldiers in disguise at the gates and all important corners of the city. He himself also remained watchful. Next time Rohineya came to the city, a watchman saw him. Rohineya was in the guise of a farmer. The watchman sent a message to Abhaykumar that some unidentified person had entered the city. Abhaykumar got alert. As Rohineya passed by, Abhaykumar glanced at him from a secret place. He did not fail to recognize the burglar even in disguise and instructed his men to surround him. Smart as Rohineya was, he quickly recognized the danger. He ran towards the city wall. Unfortunately for him, there too were soldiers to take care of him. He was thus easily apprehended and was put in bondage.
The next day, he was presented in the court. As Rohineya was in disguise, it was hard to identify him as the burglar. Abhaykumar was of course sure, but how could the accused be punished without proof of his being the wanted culprit? When the king asked him about his identity, Rohineya replied that he was a farmer named Durgachandra and belonged to Shaligram village, he had come to Räjgruhi for seeing the capital and was returning home when watchmen tried to apprehend him. Rohineya had made arrangements for that assumed identity with the residents of that village. When the enquiries were therefore made in that village, the people corroborated what Rohineya had stated in the court.