Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 49

(23)
Meghakumar
King Shrenik of Magadha had a beautiful queen named Dhärini. Once while she was sleeping, she dreamt that a white elephant was entering her mouth. She immediately woke up and told about the dream to the king. Shrenik knew that it was an auspicious dream. He called the fortune tellers who stated that the queen would get a handsome and lovable son who would have marvellous achievements to his credit. The king and queen were very much pleased to listen
that.
During the third month of her pregnancy, Dhärini got an irresistible pregnancy urge to ride in state with the king during rain, while the sky is full of clouds of different hues and there are frequent flashes of lightening. In most of India, it rains only during the monsoon that occurs from June to October. Dhärini however got the urge during off-season. How to satisfy her urge was therefore a problem. In order to see that she is not affected by the unsatisfied urge, king asked his eldest son and the prime minister Abhayakumar to devise some way to satisfy that urge. Abhayakumar had a friend who could make miracles. He exhorted that friend to cause untimely rain etc. for the sake of his step mother. That friend arranged exactly according to Dhärini's urge. She therefore could ride in state on an elephant with the king and satisfied her urge.
In due course she gave birth to a very handsome, attractive boy. Rain in Indian language is called Megha. In memory of the pregnancy urge of Dhärini, the boy was named Meghakumar. At the age of 8 he was sent to school where he learnt all the 72 arts and crafts and got known as accomplished youth. He was then married to 8 beautiful girls with whom he enjoyed all the pleasures of the worldly life. Once Lord Mahavir came to Rajgrihi and camped in Gunashil monastery. Almost every resident of Rajgrihi used to go to His sermon. Meghakumar too went there and was much impressed. Realizing the transitory nature of the worldly situations, as explained by the Lord, he decided to renounce. But his parents were pained to hear about his intention. They tried every means to stop him from renouncing. He however remained very firm. But in order to satisfy his parents' wish, he agreed to become the king for one day and was coronated with all the royal pomp. Immediately after that, he left everything and became a possessionless monk of Lord Mahavir.
At night he was allotted a place near the door for spreading his bed. During the night, monks going for pass water etc. had to move by his side. Since no lamps are allowed in the monks' residence, they happened to trample his bed and at times his body as well. Poor Meghakumar could not sleep for the whole night. He was raised in all the luxuries and even monks used to treat him with regards. It was therefore awful for him to face the feet of the monks and the dirt that was brought all over his bed and body. He had to stay sleepless for the entire night. He felt that he could not bear that sort of miserable life and decided to give up renouncement.
In the morning he went to the Lord for seeking permission to get back home. The Lord was aware of the discomforts that he had faced. He however asked him, 'Megha, do you remember the discomforts that you had faced during the previous life?' Since Meghakumar did not, the Lord described it as under.
“During the previous life you were the king of elephants and were known as Meruprabha. Once there was a fire which you escaped narrowly. That reminded you of the terrible fire you had faced in still earlier life. For a shelter from fire, you therefore opened up a vast stretch of land by removing all plants, bushes and trees so that all animals could get refuge in case of a fire. You also weeded out grass that grew there.