Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 88

sign for her. Thus feeling sure of regaining his love, she gladly permitted him to stay in the picture gallery. Now just visualize the situation. Here was youthful Sthulibhadra living in playfully decorated gallery in the presence of glamorous Kosha whom he had loved so long and there was no one else to interfere. It was too tempting. Even the great sage Vishwamitra had succumbed under such conditions. To resist that temptation was the mightiest task that Sthulibhadra had undertaken. Kosha used all her skills to win back his love; she employed every trick to seduce him from renouncement, but he remained steady like a rock. Ultimately Kosha had to give up and Sthulibhadra passed the monsoon without any way being swayed by attachment. History has not recorded any other case of staying totally detached in the midst of such highly seductive circumstances.
At the end of monsoon, pupils came back to report their experience to the preceptor. First came the monk who had successfully stayed at the entrance of lion's den. The preceptor was glad with his performance and congratulated him for undertaking the hard task. Then came the monk who had stayed near the snake's hole. He was also congratulated for the difficult task. Then came the one who had spent his days on the top of the well. The preceptor congratulated him too. When Sthulibhadra reported his tale, the preceptor was thrilled to listen that. He rose from his seat in all praise and hailed Sthulibhadra for performing a herculean task. Other pupils could not make out why the preceptor was so much impressed by performance of Sthulibhadra who had stayed at ease in most comfortable situation. Acharya explained that it was a feat that no one else could do. The first monk said that he could easily do it the next monsoon. The Acharya tried to dissuade him from his intent, because it was beyond his capability. The monk however persisted and decided to show his ability to face that situation.
The next monsoon that monk went to Kosha's place. The lustful pictures of the gallery were enough to make him excited. When he saw glamorous Kosha, his remaining resistance melted away and he begged for her love. Kosha could do anything for Sthulibhadra, but she had no regard for this monk. She could easily make out his caliber. In order to teach him a lesson she however agreed to make love, if he could bring for her the diamond studded garment for which Nepal was known. The monk was so overcome with the lust that he immediately proceeded to Nepal forgetting that monks are not supposed to travel in monsoon. With considerable difficulty he procured a garment and coming back to Patliputra he gleefully handed it to Kosha. He was now thrilled with the expectation of getting her. She however used it for wiping her feet and threw it away in garbage. The monk could not make out what was wrong with her. 'Are you crazy, Kosha? Why are you throwing away the precious gift that I have brought with so much difficulty?' he asked. 'Then why are you out to throw away the precious life of monkhood that you have obtained at heavy cost? was the reply of Kosha. The monk realized his foolishness and went back to the preceptor to report his miserable failure. From then onwards Sthulibhadra became the acknowledged leader of all the pupils.
Sthulibhadra had now to learn the 14 Purvas. Bhadrabahuswami thought that he deserved that and started teaching him. By the time, Sthulibhadra had finished 10 Purvas, they happened to come to Patliputra. Sthulibhadra's sisters who also had renounced, came to see him. Sthulibhadra knew it and thought to show them his miraculous capability. Thereupon he assumed the form of a lion. As the sisters came to his room, they were scared to see the lion. They felt afraid that the lion might have eaten him away. They reported it to Bhadrabahuswami. He could make out what had happened and asked the girls to go back to the room. Sthulibhadra had resumed his original form and the sisters were gratified that their great brother was alive and safe. Bhadrabahuswami was however annoyed that Sthulibhadra had used his capability for such trivial purpose. He therefore refused to teach him further.
Later on, there was a long lasting famine in north India. In that condition of acute shortage it was not easy for the monks to properly observe the code of conduct. Many of the monks therefore migrated to south under the leadership of Bhadrabahuswami. For those who remained behind, it was hard to exactly remember the texts of scriptures composed by Lord's Ganadharas. There