Journey Into Jainism

Author(s): Smitpragyashreeji, Vishrutvibhashreeji
Publisher: B Jain Publishers Pvt Ltd

Page 48

The Value of Inspiration
Since childhood Prince Prabhava acquired a bad habit of stealing. He owed it to bad company. For many days, he carried out his secret activities but was eventually caught. The king punished him by exiling him from the territory. Having lost contact with his family, he joined a gang of thieves. Endowed with an innate ability in the art of stealing and leadership he became the gang leader of the thieves in a short period of time. As the leader of five-hundred thieves, he now became even more fearless. Even the city guards trembled when they heard his name.
One day Prabhava learned about the dowry of billions of rupees received by Jambu, the son of a rich man on his wedding at Rajgriha. He told his accomplices, "Today we have to go to the wealthy merchant Rishabhadatta's house. There we shall get so much money that if we gave up stealing for the rest of our lives, we would never be in want.” As instructed by Prabhava, all the thieves got ready and reached Rishabhadatta's house.
Prabhava made all the servants, gatekeepers and others of the household to pass out into sound sleep through his spell of “Avasvaapini Vidya." The yard of the house was filled with riches. The thieves collected it in bundles and broke open all the locks with their lock breaking spells. They were delighted and satisfied with the body.