________________
Vardhman was not frightened. He jumped down from the tree. The snake rushed towards him, but Vardhman calmly and deftly picked up the snake and placed him far away.
He then called his friends back and said, "Why are you frightened? It is only fear that you should be afraid of!"
All his friends were very relieved and very proud of Vardhman's bravery.
When he was eight years old, Prince Vardhman was playing a game with his friends. In this game, whoever lost would have to give a piggy-back ride to the one who had won.
Suddenly a celestial being (Deva) came down in the form of a boy, and started playing with the children. He intended to frighten Prince Vardhman. This Deva lost deliberately, and asked Vardhman to get up on his back for his ride.
As soon as Vardhman got up on the Deva's back, the boy (Deva) began to grow and soon became a big ugly giant who tried to frighten Vardhman. The other children were terrified and ran away.
The eight-year-old Vardhman was sitting on the giant's back without fear. Vardhman hit the giant so hard with his fists, that the Deva turned back into his original form. Vardhman remained seated on the Deva's back and went back to the city.
E
Everybody was angry at the Deva and wanted to punish him, for frightening Vardhman and the other children.
25
Jain Education Intemational
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
