Shatrunjay a Pilgrimage

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Indira Mansukhlal Doshi Memorial Trust

Page 23

the sake of pilgrimage. At that time, it was a wooden temple. While praying, he noticed that a mouse carried away the lighted wick from the lamp. The Mantri of course brought it back. He could, however, realize that the wooden temple could be set ablaze by such movements of the mouse. He therefore took a vow to reconstruct the temple. But he was fatally wounded in the war that ensued. While on his death bed, he could not leave his mortal body for a long time. His sons therefore wanted to know what was in his mind. Thereupon he said that it was hard for him to leave, because his vow had remained unfulfilled. His son Bähad then promised that he would fulfill that vow. The Mantri was satisfied by that promise and he breathed his last.
Bähad thereafter undertook the construction of a new temple. Many people were desirous of contributing to the project. A list of donors was therefore drawn for that purpose. At that time there was a petty vendor named Bhim, who used to earn his livelihood by vending Ghee from place to place. He came to the place, where the list was being drawn. He too wanted to contribute; but he had only one coin that he had earned that day. How could he speak about donating the trifling amount, where people were contributing in thousands and millions? But Bähad noticed his eagerness. He called Bhim by his side and gently asked him to contribute whatever he wanted to do. Bhim was, however, hesitating to speak. But when Bähad repeatedly asked him to give vent to his mind, he said that he wanted to contribute one coin that he had earned. Bähad not only accepted the offer, but wrote Bhim's name at the top of the donors' list. When he was asked to explain it, Bähad said that other donors, including himself, had contributed a part of their wealth, while Bhim had contributed his entire worth.
It so happened that after Bhim came home, while he was digging his yard for refixing the cow post, he came across a box lying under the ground. When he took it out, he noticed that it contained gold coins and other valuables. He thought that it
SHATRUNJAY -- PAGE 19
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