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How amazing forgiveness he seems to be holding! How much luster of detachment is shining on his limbs! How desire-free does he look! What a level of gentle fearlessness does he have! How disaffected is he!
While thus pondering over cheerfully and praising him the king slowly went towards him. After gently moving around him and bowing to him he sat in front of the ascetic neither too close nor too far. Then with folded hands he reverently asked, “Revered sir, you are young and admirable, your age is fit for availing the pleasures of life. The worldly life offers different sorts of happiness like amorous pleasure from time to time, water rides, listening to the sweet words of attractive women etc. Leaving all those aspects why are you so earnestly observing the renounced life? Please tell me."
On hearing those words from the king the ascetic said, "Oh king, I was without protection; I did not have anyone, who could extend unique help, who could take care of my well-being, who could show real compassion, who could give me unique pleasure. That accounted for my being bereft of protection."
Lesson 6: Anäthi Muni, Part 2
Shrenik was amused by the words of the ascetic and said, "How can a consummate person like you be bereft of protection? If you do not have other protection, let me be your protector. Oh learned one, avail of the worldly pleasure. Oh ascetic! Oh friend! Make good use of this rare human life.”
The ascetic said, "Oh king Shrenik, when you yourself are without protection, how would you be my protector? How can a pauper make anyone wealthy? How can a senseless person confer intelligence? How can an illiterate person provide learnedness? How can a barren woman deliver a child? Since you are unprotected, how would you extend protection to me?'
On hearing those words the king was much amazed and got confused. He was perplexed to hear from the ascetic the words that he had never heard. As such he said, “I enjoy riding various horses of different breeds, I own many elephants with rutted temples; a large army is under my command; I do not have dearth of villages, towns, quadrupeds or harems; I avail every type of enjoyment that is possible for a human being; my servants instantly carry out my commands; I have all kinds of wealth and possess all the desirable things. Despite that you are calling me helpless! I hope sir, you are not kidding."
Thereupon the ascetic said, "O'king, you have not correctly understood what I have said. Now let me tell you how I found myself helpless and hence I renounced the worldly life. Please listen carefully and then come to the conclusion about right or wrong.
"There is an old city named Kaushämbi, which is equipped with various types of splendor. My wealthy father named Dhansanchay was living there. During my early youth my eyes got afflicted with intense pain. It seemed to me as if the whole body was ablaze. The acute disease pounced upon me like an enemy. I got severe headache on account of unbearable pain in the eyes. I was agonized by the excruciating pain comparable to one from an adamantine attack that could overwhelm even those who witnessed it.
"Several expert physicians came to cure me of the disease. They gave me various treatments, but that went in vain. Those so-called experts could not relieve me of the pain. O'king, that was my helplessness. My father offered all his wealth in order to relieve me of the pain in eyes, but it did not help. O'king, that was my helplessness. My mother was much worried by the pain that her son was bearing, but she could not relieve me of it. O'king, that was my helplessness. My elder and younger brothers born of the same womb tried their best, but that did not reduce my pain. O'king, that was my helplessness. My elder and younger sisters also could not relieve of the pain. O'king, that was my helplessness. My chaste wife, who was very affectionate and used to love me, was wetting my chest with tears flowing from her eyes. She applied to my body various ointments prepared from grains, drinks, flowers, sandalwood and other known as well as unknown scented materials, but my disease was not reduced by any of them. She did not stay apart even for a moment, but she could not relieve me of the pain. O'king, that was my helplessness.
