Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

Page 76

So Metarya was taken away by his mother. Their house was a hut built of small pieces of wood. Many birds had built nests inside it. In the rear of the house there was a wide space where pigs were found grazing or seeking rubbish to eat.
His mother was happy to get back her son. She passed the whole night gazing at him.
In the morning he came out of the hut and gazed at an unknown creeper laden with flowers. The flowers were as blue as the sky above.
Then all of a sudden he left the hut. Evening drew near and yet Metarya did not return home. His mother was waiting eagerly for her son's return. And, she was sorry for bringing him back from the marriage hall.
Many days passed but there was no news of the boy, who spent three years in practising penance in the forest. He wanted to get rid of his untouchability.
Then one day Metarya went to the king. It was dusk. He introduced himself to the King as Metarya and demanded the king's daughter. The king got angry at this but he controlled himself at the silly demand of an untouchable boy. He asked him, “What would you give to get my daughter?"
Metarya said that he was prepared to give anything demanded of him.
The king said, “Can you build a wall round my city of Rajgrihi before the night ends? If you fail I will behead you."