Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 45

treachery should not be ignored and that the treacherous persons should be severely dealt with. While staying in meditation, his mind lost sight of his state of monkhood and began to wander astray. It soon became deeply involved in thinking about ways and means of rescuing his son. With that end in view, he mentally got engrossed in countering the supposed enemies of his son with all his might. As a man of valor, he was confident that he could fight single handed against the conspirators.
Meanwhile, Shrenik came to the Lord's assembly with high regards for Prasannachandra. Since he was much impressed with the penance, he asked the Lord about the fate of the sage king, if he died that moment. Prasannachandra was, that time, highly in rage at the supposed conspirators. So the Lord replied that he would go to the first hell. Shrenik could not believe what he had heard. So he asked the same question again. By that time the sage king's mind was actively engaged in fighting against the conspirators. The Lord therefore replied that he would go to the second hell. Shrenik had now no doubt about his ears but he was much astonished to hear that. Out of the curiosity he asked the same question again and again, while Prasannachandra was mentally indulging in increasing degree of violence. The Lord therefore replied, one after another, that he would go to the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and eventually to the 7th hell.
Meanwhile, Prasannachandra was mentally engaged in using all possible arms in fighting against the supposed enemies. Then he felt that he had used up all the arms that were available to him. As a last resort, he therefore thought to hit them with his heavy crown. As he tried to reach the crown for the purpose, he touched his shaved head and recalled that he had actually renounced the worldly life. He immediately regained his sense and started repenting for his vile indulgence. With the sense of high remorse, he quickly got rid of the defilements that had momentarily overcome him. Vanquishing all sorts of delusion he gained total detachment. Thereby he destroyed all his Karmas and attained Kevaljnan or the omniscience. That attainment was soon heralded with the proclamation of 'Prasannachandra Räjarshi Sarvadä Jayatu' meaning that the sage king Prasannachandra stay victorious forever.
Shrenik was much perplexed when he heard the proclamation. It was hard for him to understand how the person, who was supposed to go to the most wretched hell only a moment before, had attained omniscience. The Lord could make out his confusion. He explained that the next birth
depends upon the mental state obtaining at the time of death. Since Prasannachandra's mind was engrossed in an increasing degree of violence for the time being, he rendered himself liable
to go to the lower and lower level, if he had died at that time. But then he realized his foul indulgence for which he sincerely repented and had started contemplating about the true nature of soul. Thereby he overcame all sorts of defilements as well as delusion and attained
omniscience. Thus the mental state from time to time makes all the difference.
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SULASÄ
During the time of Lord Mahavir when Shrenik was the king of Magadha, there was a charioteer named Nagarath in Räjgruhi. He was an expert charioteer and Shrenik used to rely upon him whenever he had to go for any adventure. Pleased with his expertise Shrenik had appointed Nagarath as his principal charioteer. He was married to a girl named Sulasä who was a staunch devotee of Lord Mahavir. She gave birth to many sons who turned out to be very bold. Shrenik had therefore appointed them as his personal bodyguards and they were performing the job very faithfully.