Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 85

Once it was the 14th day of the lunar month. On that day it was customary for Sumitra to take an off for observing the ritual of Paushadh. It is a ritual that enables the aspirant to practice the life of a monk. He was however called by the king in the early morning for consultation on several issues and remained busy for the entire day. Thus he could not go home till evening. He very much regretted for his failure to observe Paushadh during the day. On entering the home he therefore decided to observe Deshävakäshik which is considered a substitute for Paushadh.
Now it so happened that the king learnt from his spies that one of his tributaries named Sursen was actively planning to revolt against the authority of Chandrä. The matter urgently called for the appropriate action so that Sursen could be checked in time. He therefore sent his trusted messenger to summon Sumitra to the palace for consultation. Sumitra was however bound by his restraint of Deshävakäshik that did not allow him to come out of his home. He therefore told the messenger that he was tied up with the ritual and could not go to the king before the day break.
The king was however much perturbed by the news about the reported plans of Sursen and badly needed the presence of Sumitra. He was therefore very much annoyed, when he heard that Sumitra would not come before the next morning. He could not agree that religious practices should come in the way of such grave issues. In all possible rage, he sent the messenger again to Sumitra with the instructions to bring the minister to the palace immediately. He also asked the messenger to tell Sumitra that if he failed to come right then, he should be ready to quit the job.
Sumitra was amazed to hear the message. He was in the midst of a dilemma. Either he had to break his ritual or give up the ministership. He had however firm faith in the efficacy of the religion and was convinced that no harm would come forth by performing the religious activities in true spirit. He therefore decided to go in for the second alternative even at the cost of courting the displeasure of the king. Accordingly he handed over to the messenger the royal insignia and the official robe of the minister without the slightest hesitation and quietly continued with the ritual.
The messenger was a man of vanity. He had a long standing craving to wear the robe and the royal insignia. He was overjoyed to have in his hand those coveted symbols and could not resist the temptation of putting on the same. By that time it was dark. Thinking that no one would notice his putting on the same on account of the darkness, he put the ministerial robe and the royal insignia on his body and proceeded to the palace in all the pomp of a minister.
On the other side, Sursen had come to the conclusion that he could not throw away the yoke of Chandrä as long as Sumitra was the minister. He very much resented the tribute that he was required to pay to Chandrä and was looking for an opportunity to regain his independence. He perceived Sumitra as the most formidable obstacle in his way. He had therefore been planning to get rid of him somehow. He knew that Sumitra frequently used to move without adequate protection. He had therefore sent to Chandrä a selected band of his body guards in disguise with the instructions that whenever they came across Sumitra unprotected, they should kill him.
That evening, those body guards were looking for Sumitra, when the messenger passed by them in the ministerial garb. As it was very dark, they could not correctly identify the messenger. They thought that it was the best opportunity to carry out their plan. Thereupon, they overtook the messenger and killed him thinking him to be Sumitra. Then leaving the messenger dead, they immediately rushed to get out of the city, But watchmen of the city happened to pass by that very time. They heard the cries of the dying messenger and saw the assailants running away. They vigorously pursued the murderers and apprehended them.
Meanwhile, the king was getting furious to note that the messenger had not come back. Out of impatience, he sent the chief of his body guards to figure out where the messenger was delayed. On his way, the chief came across a big crowd that had gathered near the dead body of the messenger. They were talking about the murder of the minister. As he pierced the crowd out of