Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

Page 88

passed by the place where Meghakumar lay asleep. Consequently, dust from their feet used to trouble the sleeping monk. Hence, he thought, “How bad!. These Sadhus don't allow me to have an undisturbed sleep!" He, therefore, thought of giving up his initiated life. So he went to the Lord to narrate his troubles. But the Lord had known before-hand what was in Meghakumar's mind and told him that in his previous birth he had suffered for the sake of the happiness of others.
The Lord began to narrate the story of the past birth of Meghakumar and said; “You were an elephant in the past
life. In summer, a fire broke out in the forest where you were · living with other she-elephants. Many animals were burnt in the forest fire. You also ran away to save yourself from the encircling flames of fire and then fell into a pond full of slush due to the smog. Here another elephant rushed at you and wounded you by the thrusts of his sharp tusks. You suffered from the wounds for seven days and died in the end. You were then reborn as an elephant in the Vindhya mountains. Again a fire broke out in the forest. So a large area was cleared of the trees, by your fellow elephants. But again another fire broke out in the forest. So, many small animals took shelter in the clearing. A frightened rabbit also arrived there to seek protection from the fire. Meanwhile, your skin was itching and you raised your foot to scratch the itching part. And that rabbit esconsced itself in the vacant space under your foot. Seeing the poor animal, you did not put down your foot but kept it raised out of pity for it. The fire lasted for more than two days. Consequently, your foot got
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