Mahavir Prince Of Peace

Author(s): Ranchor Prime
Publisher: Mandala Publishing

Page 93

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun yarmandir
www.kabatirth.org
"Tell me, can I break this straw in two?" he asked. If Mahavira said yes he would pretend he couldn't. and if he said no he would easily break it. Mahavira looked intently, and answered his challenger with confident assurance
"Try how you might, you will be unable to break that straw."
Laughing loudly, the astrologer tried to break the straw. But he could not. He strained until his face was red, but found the straw to be quite unbreakable. With shame he left. amidst the laughter of the villagers. Then Mahavira revealed to them what he knew about the deceitful practices of this man. After that the people thanked him, and never again allowed themselves to be so easily deceived. Having enlightened the people of the village. Mahavira continued on his wav.
Next he followed the path toward the town of Svetambi. This path led along a deserted road through densely wooded hills. No one traveled that way for it was said to be inhabited by a fierce cobra who lay beside the path waiting to kill unsuspecting travelers. Merely by its gaze, without having to bite, this snake could poison a person through its eves alone.
As he was about to enter the forest. Mahavira was seen by some cowherd boys
"Do not go that way." they warned, or you will be burned to ashes by the terrible cobra who lives along this road. It has killed many innocent travelers."
But Mahavira knew about this cobra. In its previous life it had lived as a powerful ascetic named Chandakaushika, who had many disciples who dwelt with him in the forest. But he was quick to anger. One day he caught some visitors stealing mangos from his hermitage, and his anger was so great that he rushed at them brandishing an ax, intent on terrible harm. Fate made him trip, and he fell upon his ax and split open his head, dying instantly. On departing that body while being filled with rage, he was reborn in the body of a cobra and equipped with the power to poison his prey simply with his eyes. Mahavira knew all this, and wanted to release the former ascetic from the prison of his hatred and anger. So, ignoring the advice of the cowherds, he entered the forest to confront this twisted being and restore it to sanity and a wholesome life.
With his heart full of compassion, Mahavira reached the heart of the forest. There he stood still and absorbed himself in deep meditation. The cobra could smell the presence of a human being, and crawled out from its hiding place hissing with anger. It looked venomously upon Mahavira, but though all the birds and insects around him died and fell to the ground, Mahavira was untouched by the evil eye of the cobra. With mounting anger. the snake rushed forward and bit deep into Mahavira's foot. A plume of blood spurted forth, but it was not red, rather it was white like milk, the symbol of Mahavira's love for all beings. even this hateful creature. Mahavira spoke.
"Chanda kaushika, have you forgotten what harm anger has done to you in the past? Give up your rage and hatred-they are only harming you and destroying your true nature. Be peaceful and realize the truth." These words, spoken with wisdom and love, touched the heart of the being trapped in the body of the snake. Memory of his fateful past flooded in, and Chandakaushika was freed from his hatred.
The snake circled round the loving saint, then left that place. It hid away from sight and fasted. As it weakened, its bad karma was exhausted, until at last death took its spirit. Then the soul who had once lived as the ascetic Chandakaushika, and who had later preved upon the innocent, was reborn as a godly being in a heavenly realm.