Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 76

glamorous wives and wished him perfect happiness. At night Jambu was closeted in elegantly decorated bedroom along with his wives and the elders heaved a sign of relief.
Jambu was however not at all affected by the glamor nor was he overcome by the beauty of those lovely girls. He had made up his mind to renounce the next day and wanted to make use of the night for orienting those girls for the purpose. He sat in front of them and started explaining the purely temporary and transitory character of life and everything pertaining to that.
At that time in the vicinity of Räjgruhi, there was a burglar named Prabhav. He had been a prince of Vindhya but had fallen out with his parents on the issue of some property. He therefore left the place and had embarked upon burglary. He had gathered with him 500 colleagues who were willing to undertake any sort of adventure at his command. He had acquired a device to put any one to sleep and he could break any type of lock. He came to know of the fabulous treasure accumulated on the occasion of Jambu's wedding and had decided to grab it.
At dead of the night he came to the place along with his followers and saw that every one had gone to sleep on account of the exhaustion of the ceremony. He asked his colleagues to pick up the valuables and himself proceeded towards Jambu's bedroom for the jewelry on the bodies of newly weds. From a little distance he heard Jambu talking to his wives. He could not believe that the newly weds were still awake. He came close to the door and tried to listen expecting exciting love gossip. To his utter astonishment Jambu was talking about the true nature of life. His words were so forceful that Prabhav could not stop listening.
Jambu's talk was appealing not only to his wives but also to Prabhav. He started thinking that he had fallen out with his parents and others for the sake of some possessions and was leading the nasty life of a burglar, while here was a young boy planning to give up everything that he had effortlessly gained. Jambu's talk was still going on. The more Prabhav listened, the more he hated himself. His men came to him with bundles of valuables, pointing out that it was getting dawn and they should leave. But Prabhav was not listening to them. He had developed disdain for his current life and was keen to change it. Ultimately he told his followers to leave him alone, because he had decided to give up burglary. They could therefore go on their own. All of them were exasperated at that. They said that they were not to go anywhere without him. If he was giving up the occupation, they were also willing to give it up.
By that time Jambu had finished. His wives were convinced of the futility of the worldly life and had decided to renounce with him. Then Prabhav came inside and said that he had come up for the burglary but had decided to renounce after listening his talk to his wives. He and his 500 followers made up their mind to be Jambu's pupils. In the morning news spread everywhere that Jambu was going to renounce that day along with his wives. His parents were disappointed that their intention did not materialize. They did not have any incentive to continue the household life and decided to renounce. And so was the decision of the girls' parents. A spectacular procession was organized leading all those 500+ people to the assembly of Sudharmäswämi. Jambu became his pupil and Prabhav and his colleagues became Jambu's pupils.
Jambuswämi as he became known thenceforth studied the entire teaching of Lord Mahavir. Most of Jain scriptures are composed in the form of dialogue from Sudharmäswämi to Jambuswämi. He became the head of the religious order when Sudharmäswämi attained omniscience. He himself attained it at the age of 36. He was the last omniscient of the current time cycle. He
attained Nirvan at the age of 80.
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