Book Title: Stories From Jainism
Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

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Page 134
________________ that it was music issuing from an untouchable's hut, they turned away, expressing their dislike and disgust. They did not like to encourage their skill. In fact, they could not bear to hear them singing. One day, their lutes were broken by an orthodox citizen. This enraged these musicians. They wanted to emancipate themselves from the chains of untouchability. Soon thereafter, there was a cyclonic storm at night outside their hut, and they left it. They were soon walking along the beach that bordered the mountain range. Here they saw a monk whose face beamed with inner peace and light. He sympathised with them and consoled them. He initiated them into his fold, to remedy their sense of aloofness from the people. There was now no untouchability for them. One day both the newly initiated monks went for alms to the place of Namuchi, who was then the king's minister. Namuchi was enraged at seeing them. He feared they would reveal his downfall at their hut. So he insulted them and cried, “You, untouchables!" Chitra did not feel slighted at this insult; but, the other monk, Sambhuti, could not bear the ill-treatment. The insult tormented him. He was proud of his penances. So, he wanted to reduce the Minister and his town to ashes. When king Sanatkumar came to know of the insult meted out to the monks, he at once proceeded to their place and asked for pardon. As a result, Sambhuti had to forgive and forget the ill-treatment. But now he wanted to be born as a king in his next birth. After his death Sambhuti was born as king Brahmadatta of Kampilpura. He did not know where Chitra had been re-born. He yearned to see him. 121

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