Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

Page 52

12
ATIMUKTA
nce Gautam, the disciple of Lord Mahavir, was passing by the royal palace of the city of Polaspur.
Prince Atimukta was playing with his friends in the outer garden of the palace. Suddenly, the prince happened to see Gautam. To his wonder, he forgot to play with his playmates. Why? He was so much impressed by the gentle figure of Gautam. So he ran to him and said, 'O Sadhu! Who are you?"
Gautam introduced himself briefly by saying that he was a Shraman - a Sadhu. But Atimukta was not satisfied with this information. He, therefore, began to ask a volley of questions e.g, "Where do you live? What do you do? How do you earn your bread? Where do you come from? And where are you going?"
Gautam smiled a little on hearing these questions and said, "We are sadhus. Meditation on the Self is our aim. As to residence, we live everywhere. To get bread is no problem to us. We eat whatever pure food we get. I have come just now from the garden outside the town. Our Guru is putting up there. I will go back there."
The prince then asked, "Can I see your Guru?"
39