Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

Page 78

it into water and tied it tight round the forehead of the monk and said “Take this reward for stealing my beads!"
Metarya thought, “If any one is to be punished, then, why should I not suffer punishment for his sake?"
Now, it was noon and the sun was overhead. The hide strip got dry and consequently it got smaller and smaller. This caused unbearable pain. His very eye-balls bulged out, but Metarya's face did not show any sign of pain. He suffered it all silently without a murmur.
Passers-by saw Metarya standing outside the veranda of the goldsmith. They remarked sarcastically. "A Sadhu and that too a thief!" But Metarya was deaf to this.
After some time, his eye-balls came out and he dropped down dead on the ground. The thud of his fall frightened the bird sitting near and he vomitted out the golden beads.
The goldsmith looked at the beads and then at the monk. He wondered at the compassion for the bird shown by the monk. He wondered at the pain suffered by him for the sake of the bird.
Then the goldsmith could not remain at home. He picked up the begging bowl lying near the corpse of Metarya and went to the place whence the Sadhu had come for begging alms. The goldsmith now embraced monkhood. One lamp kindles another lamp!
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