Study of Jainism

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 40

Tirthankara Rşabhadeva
is to give due emphasis on the spiritual without ignoring the secular values. Jainism was quite aware that we must give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to Gods what is due to Gods. King Bharata ruled his kingdom with justice incorporating the higher values of life. The people were happy and prosporous. Viniranagari (Ayodhya) was a city brimming with secular wealth and prosperity. It was also a just city, just the city which promoted secular wisdom and spiritual values. On one suspicious day, king Bharata received three auspicious news : 1) Bhagavan Rşabhadeva attained the enlightenment under the Asoka tree. 2) a son was born to Bharata and then 3) he also came to know that in his armoury emerged the cakraratna (a sacred and powerful weapon of cakra) 62, just as in the modern age we talk of the pro the atom bomb and hydrogen bomb. Bharata thought that the attainment of Kēvala jñana by Rşabhadeva is the expression of dharma, the highest value in the secular life ; the birth of the son expresses the fulfilment of the desire (kāma); and the emergence of cakraratna expresses and proclaims the fulfilment of the value of social and political authority (artha). 63 Therefore, he went to Rşabhadeva to give his obeisaence. 84 Then he started on his political campaign of the conquest of the neighbouring countries. This was the sequel to the emergence of cakraratna which made it imperative for him to follow the movement of the cakra, to subjugate the neighbouring Kings in the entire continent and to declare himself to be the Cakravartin (the Emperor). He first went in the Eastern direction and many of the princes accepted his superior authority. Then he went to the South and conquered many countries and then his conquest continued in the West and the North. All the Kings and the Princes offered their respects to him and accepted his suzereighty. He came to Ayodhya satisfied and powerful. But, to the surprise of all, the cakraratna would not enter the city. It stood at the gates of the city. The king Bharata and his ministers were nonplussed. They did not know what to do nor where they would be able to find out the real cause for this incidents. But, the wiser among the ministers said to the king, “O King, this suggests that you have yet to conquer some. Your brothers have not yet paid their respects to you as the Cakravartin. Your brother Bahubali also is to come and pay his respects” The king then sent his emissories to his brothers