Mahavir Prince Of Peace

Author(s): Ranchor Prime
Publisher: Mandala Publishing

Page 79

"The noble Vardhamana is full of compassion and never ignores a request for help."
LOSING the FINAL COMFORT
YEAR PASSED. and Mahavira traveled peacefully and untroubled, covered by his only possession, the cloth that Indra gave him. Meanwhile a poor Brahmin named Soma lived in the kingdom of Vaishali. When the former Prince Vardhamana had given away all his treasures, everyone had received something save this Soma, who had been away begging in another part of the country, and only returned when the prince had distributed every last bit of his wealth and renounced the world.
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"While you were away everyone but us received boundless charity from the noble Vardhamana," lamented his wife. "You must go after the prince, who is now traveling, and ask for his mercy. Surely he can help you even now, for he is full of compassion and never ignores a request for help."
Obediently, Soma followed in the direction of Mahavira, inquiring as he went. After some time he found him. He saw the fabulous cloth worn by the former prince and at once he desired it. So boldly he approached him.
"O noble prince, you always help those in need. You made everyone else happy in your kingdom by your generosity. Only I was not helped. So kindly give me your valuable cloth."
Mahavira looked upon the poor man with compassion, and his gaze was like the light of the sun that shines upon a sunflower. Without hesitation he tore in half the valuable cloth given him by the king of heaven and, keeping one half to cover himself, gave the other half to the Brahmin.
In great happiness the Brahmin returned home and took the cloth to the village tailor. The tailor recognized it as an article of rare value, but he saw that it had been torn in half.
"This is certainly a valuable item," he said. "But if you would only find the other half I could sew them both together and the resultant cloth would fetch a huge sum in gold coins, enough to make you
Without hesitation he tore his valuable cloth in half and keeping one half to cover himself. gave the other half to the Brahit..