________________
181
Kúlaválaka?' Then a certain minister, who knew the facts, told the story of Kúlaválaka.
He said:
PREVIOUS HISTORY OF KÚLAVÁLAKA.
'King, in this very land of Bharata there is a teacher named Sangamasúri, who is surrounded by many pupils. One of his pupils was ill conducted, being addicted to expatiating on the beauty and charms of women. He delighted in beholding them. The teacher admonished him, saying: "Great-souled one, it is not fitting for hermits to look at women; as it is said in the Scriptures:
"As even a small jungle-fire consumes a whole forest of bamboos, So even the name of young women drives away severe penance.'" Though the pupil was admonished in this way, he did not learn wisdom, but nursed a special hatred against his teacher. One day the teacher ascended the top of Girnár. When they had worshipped the lord Nemi and were coming "This is an down, that wicked pupil said in his heart: opportunity for destroying my teacher, so I will kill him, otherwise he will smite me with severe speeches." So he let loose a huge stone behind his teacher. He saw it coming along with many checks, and going out of the path he escaped to a distance. The hermit said to his pupil : "O you wicked one, defiler of the bed of your teacher, enemy of your teacher, what have you done? Some people do not forget a benefit once conferred; I have for a long time been conferring benefits on you by imparting to you learning and other things." Then the teacher said: "Since you bear an enmity against me with reference to women, your asceticism shall be destroyed by a woman.' ." When the teacher had said this, he went to his monastery.* That wicked pupil, for his part, went to the forest, thinking that he would falsify the word of his teacher. He performed asceticism on the bank of a mountain torrent. Then the rainy season came on, and the river began to flow with a full volume of water. Then the goddess of the water,
*Skrit, gachchha.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
