Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

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MAMMAN SHETH
et us go back some twenty-five hundred years. King
L was ruling over City of in
One day King Shrenik was sitting with his wife, Queen Chelana, at night on the Veranda of his palace. It was raining and lightning was flashing about in the sky.
The river in the neighbourhood of the royal palace was in spate. Logs of wood were adrift and a man was pulling them out of water. This was seen by Queen Chelana. She was surprised at this sight; for, it was believed that King Shrenik's subjects were happy.
The Queen spoke to the King about what she had seen and asked, "How ignorant are you of your people? A poor man lives in our city and you are unaware of this! How is it that he is indigent and poor, inspite of your able administration?"
Meanwhile, lightning flashed again. And the king saw a poor man clad in loin-cloth carrying a heavy load of fire-wood. So the king called for the poor man and asked, "Who are you? Why do you work so hard when the whole city is at rest?"
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