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SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
'Call it then the will of Truth'
Shrenik had no word to utter All were mute like him. Varishena was drawn towards the Lord
4. It was the hayday of Rajgriha Moral and material progress distinguished it far and wide Lord Mahavira often camped there He had passed fourteen of his rainy seasons there Hundreds of his disciple-monks practised meditation in the caves of vaibhagiri mountain The jungle of the range drew various monks to practise religion there undisturbed Another practice was also being pursued in the caves and jungles around The robbers and dacoits who were a menace to the townmen of Rajgriha sought refuge there The Lord had rightly said that the means of spiritual progress can as well become the means of moral decline Conversely, the means of moral decline may as well serve to promote spiritualism The forest caves that served to shelter the monks engaged in spiritual pursuit also served to harbour the decoits engaged in moral descent
A robber, Lohakhuro, lived in a cave of Vaibhagiri Rohini was his wife Rohineya was his son Lohakhuro was a ruthless robber The rich of Rajgrha was mortally afraid of him, a heartless rogue as he was He was an atheist He had an abhorrence for religion and religious teachers For years together he had terrified the town of Rajgriha now death terrified him He was breathing his last He said to Robineya, 'Please listen to my last advice and follow it all your life'
Rohineya grew serious
Said Lohakhuro, 'You must have heard of the fame of the monk Mahavira who lives at Rajgriha'
'I have heard of him father He yields a vast influence, The entire town of Rajgriha worships him'
'Son! He is our greatest enemy' 'How is it father?'
'Once a few of my associates went to see him When they returned they were no more robbers Shrenik is our minor enemy. He can barely impnson a thief rather than wean him
