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38 Kshamapana
Mahavir should but once pray for God's help. If man accepts god's greatness, it is a great victory. He could then return to his Heavenly Abode with a bright face.
Under Mahavir's feet a cook made a fire to cook food. A hunter hung cages on his body which was steady like the trunk of a tree. With strokes of their beaks, hungry birds prayed upon the flesh of his body.
At the time, a thief was caught by chance. He said, "I am innocent. I have only carried out the orders of my guru. Come, I will show you my guru."
The thief led the policeman to Mahavir who was practising penance. That 'Disciple' got free and the policeman beat up Mahavir like a beast. But speaking or asking for help was out of question.
That was the re-payment of a particular debt, whether man or god - everyone is bound by the rope of Karma. The rope was being out that way. Mahavir got released from the kings gallows but in fact he was cutting the bondage.
Six long months passed by. He had not got enough food by begging. But it was not in Mahavir to bow down. The gold of his soul stood the test of fire.
Kshamapana 39 At last, Sangam fell down in supplication at Mahavir's feet. This god's pride yielded to Mahavir's conquest over internal enemies viz. lust, anger, greed, etc. His tolerance melted Sangam's heart, agonizing like bee's wax. Bhagavan Mahavir forgave Sangam who had agonized him in a number of ways for six long months. The Jain scriptures describe this spirit of forgiveness as under:
जहिं आकोसणवयण सहिज्जइ,
जहिं परदोस ण जणि भासिज्जइ, जहिं चेयणगुण चित्त धरिज्जइ,
तहिं उत्तम खम जिणे कहिज्जइ ।
[Those people who regard the harsh words of wicked persons as fruits of their own accumulated Karma, rather than blame others and get engrossed in the experience of the natural qualities of the soul and it is this that God calls forgiveness par excellence.]
The Jain monk is forbidden to let the spittle pass down his throat before he asks forgiveness for his error. To love him who has spread thorns for you is the real test of forgiveness. Excited by jealousy, Bhagavan Buddha's own disciple once threw a slab of stone at him. Bhagavan Buddha was hurt on his leg. For a number of days he could
