Tirthankar Mahavir

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 47

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
unperturbed. There was no fear - nor even slightest worry - in his eyes. He was sitting, with imposing appearance, there on the goblin's shoulder as if on the head of an elephant
Vardhamana knew, with his supernatural power of clairvoyance, that the goblin was none other than the god who had come down on the earth from his heavenly world to frighten him. He realised that the giant goblin was just an illusion. Prince Vardhamana decided to teach him a lesson. He firmly closed his fist and hit a severe blow to goblin's head. The goblin felt as if a thunderbot had hit him and he screamed in agony. The second blow on the head made the mountainlike goblin bend down with pain and he gave out a loud cry. The third blow brought his head down to his toes. He looked as if he had been sunk into the ground. He tried hard to throw Vardhamana away from his shoulder; but he failed miserably. As a last resort he abandoned the form of a goblin ard reverted to be a boy. The three blows had broken him completely
Amalki Krida The game of "hide and seek
The god then assumed his normal form and admitted his defeat. He humbly said, "O Vardhamana, I had misjudged you. It was wrong of me to decide to test your bravery and courage. However, your strength and power have humbled me. I was totally unaware of your infinite power. I was ignorant. Please forgive me."
Prince Vardhamana said, "Now that you have realised your mistake and your offence and that you are now repentant, there is no need for further punishment. The purpose of punishment would be to make the offender or the guilty person realise his offence or guilt. I forgive you."
The god saluted Vardhamana with folded hands and returned to his celestial abode. Vardhamana came out victorious from the severest test of his fearlessness and courage. All gods and goddesses praised Vardhamana's good cualities and wished him victory at all times in future.
When the god was relating the story about the matchless strength and power of Vardhamana before the assembly of gods and goddesses, the entire assembly listened to it attentively. Right from the time of his birth, Vardhamana was strong and brave. The power he possessed was infinite times stronger than that possessed by Indra. And his strength was immeasurably more powerful than that of the universal ruler. Neither a god nor the Lord of gods was capable of defeating him.