Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 64

Chilätiputra could not make out what the saint meant by those three words. Being however struck with intense remorse he pondered over them again and again. He ultimately realized that the words stood for pacification of defilements, discernment and restraint. He recalled all types of defilements that he had indulged in since boyhood. He also remembered the repeated rebukes from the fatherly Dhanadatta and his own total disregard for the same. The result was the tragic end of Sushamä! How terrible was that? It happened because he had never cared to distinguish good and bad. Lure of beauty and wealth had blinded him throughout. That showed the total absence of discernment on his part. Now the only way open to him was to adopt restraints. The significance of the three terms thus dawned upon him. He realized the futility of the life that he had lived. He decided to give up everything and adopt the life full of restraint.
That very place he stood steadfast contemplating about his misdeeds and the real purpose of life. People passing by were scared of his blood stained outfit. Some recognized him and told others about the cruel burglar. A few of them got scared. Others hurled stones at him from a distance. As he did not make any movement, they dared to come closer assaulting, scorning and spitting at him. But he remained completely unaffected. Ants and other insects attracted by the odor of the blood, started biting him. He however took everything as the fruits of his past misdeeds and did not lose evenness of mind. His body got totally sprained by the injuries of the people and bites of the insects. On the third day he died maintaining the perfect equanimity and attained heaven.
(30)
ILÄCHIKUMAR
In ancient times there was a town named llavardhan in which there lived a businessman named Dhandatta. He had a wife named lächi who gave birth to a very lovable and handsome boy. That being the only son, the parents deliberately kept him nameless. As son of llächi he therefore came to be known as Ilächiputra. He was reared with all the loving care and attention in the midst of luxuries. In due course he grew to be a handsome youth and as such started being called as llächikumar. His parents were now eager to get him married. Being the only son of a well to do family, many people offered their daughters in marriage. His parents prepared a select list out of them and asked llächikumar to choose any one that he liked the most. But somehow llächikumar could not make any selection.
Once a party of acrobats came to the town. During those days there were no stadiums where acrobats could play. They had to show their skill in open air. Beating the drums in token of their arrival, those acrobats fixed the poles in an open ground off the main street and connected them with a rope high in the air. Many people assembled there to watch the show. The acrobats ascended the pole one after another and started demonstrating their skill of playing on the rope. They were walking and jumping over the high rope. People were highly fascinated by the performance. Ilächikumar also had come there to watch the show. While watching the performance of the acrobats, his attention was drawn to the young girl of the chief of acrobats. She looked very smart and was dancing very gracefully to the tune of the drums with ringing jingle bells on her feet. Ilächikumar got too much enamored of her and could not move his glance from her.
At the end of the show, the acrobats came down the rope and started collecting money from the people who had assembled for the show. People were very pleased with the performance and paid handsomely. Thus collecting good amount, the acrobats left the place and every one went home. llächikumar also had to go home. He was however so much fascinated by the girl that he remained absorbed in thoughts about her and could not fix his mind anywhere else. At the appropriate time his parents called him for the lunch. There too, he remained silent and finished