Kshamapana

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 7

12 Kshamapana cemented on it, is true forgiveness. In his previous bhava (birth) as Triprushtha Vasudev, Bhagavan Mahavir poured overheated lead into his servant's (shayyapalak's) ears. Ages passed by. The servant (shayyapalak) of the previous birth came as a cowherd and thrust straight long thorns into Bhagavan Mahavir's ears. This happened during the twelfth year of his penance. This incident shows that if animosity is not calmed and quietened in time, it produces very horrible results. The real way of celebrating the Samvatsari festival lies in seeing one's own faults, in rising above the mud of attachment and a version that lies at every step, in being awakened to one's errors. If a man does not get awakened to his errors and enjoyments in time, he is put into a very bad plight. He becomes untruthful, addicted, attached and full of harm of others. Regarding the plight of such an ignorant man, "Dashavaikalika Sutra' says:
निच्चुब्विडगो जहा तेणो, अत्त-कम्मेहि दुम्मइ। तारिसो मरणंते वि, नाऽऽराहेइ संवरं ।।
(- 421.31.4, 3.2.. 38) As the ever-fearing thief comes to grief as a result of his own bad deeds, so the ignorant person comes to grief on account of his misdeeds and even when his end comes near he cannot
Kshamapana 13 restrain his sense organs.
An old woman of eighty wa lying on her death-bed. She was breathing her last. Somebody told her, "Granny, now ask everybody's forgiveness." Then the old woman said, "I will ask forgiveness of everybody except my second son because I don't want to see his wretched face." Thus even at the age of eighty, even when one is breathing one's last, the mind is pre-occupied with past hurts of anger and of spite. At the end, even when navakar mantra is being spoken to him, man tightens the knot of his animosity and retaliation.
Thus, these days of Paryushan are the days of introspection. Man constantly roams outside. It is easy to see the outside world. For it, eyesight would do, insight is not needed. Our sense organs are also inclined towards the outer world. But the days of Paryushan are the days of looking inwards. In daily life we offened a number of sentients. We happen to be unjust, disrespectful or offensive to them. We bear animosity or hostility. Considering all this, we should retrace our steps from the wrong path. To ask their forgiveness, to abandon animosity towards them, to love them - is the aim of forgiveness (Kshamapana).