Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

Page 41

reached the city of Rajgirhi he found a band of Sadhus coming towards him. He also saw that an elephant had loosened its chain and was running towards him. Everyone thought that Ardrakumar would be crushed. But lo! The elephant bowed at the feet of this monk and then dashed into the forest.
When king Shrenik heard this news, he left his palace and went to the monk. He wondered why the elephant had spared the monk. Then Ardrakumar narrated with a smile what had happened in the past and said, "Man is free from times immemorial. He is, however, bound in fetters as long as he feels so mentally. This is the bond of tender yarn of this world. The elephant finding me free from this worldly bond, spared me and went into the forest where there is unlimited freedom."
Moral : Think that you are free and there will be no psychological bonds for you.
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