Tirthankar Mahavir

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

Page 56

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
then they would attain success in political affairs, get firmly established in their throne and have no fear of enemies from any quarter. Thinking so, they sent their princes to Kshatriyakunda to serve prince Vardhamana. Emperor Shrenika kept his son in the company of Vardhamana. King Candapradyota too sent his son to Vardhamana.
Kings have worries about their kingdoms. They live always in fear that their enemies might ttack them at any time. They are always thinking out plans as to how to avert those attacks nd how to retain their kingdoms in their hands. They have to be always vigilant about the internal unrest, revolt and dissension. They cannot sleep. This was the reason why those kings thought out a plan in advance. The plan was to send their princes to Vardhamana and to urge them to remain in his close company, to entertain him, to foster friendship with him. The bond of friendship and sentiment would help their princes in furure in their political career in retaining
their hold and influence on their kingdoms and subsidiaries. Service by the strong and powerful is mostly inspired by selfish motives.
But what happened was quite opposite to their expectation. After the death of Siddhartha, Prince Vardhamana had not even cast a glance on the crown, the throne or the kingdom. Princes who were in his service or company thought that when great ascetics have been tempted and enticed by prosperity, power, fame, beauty and sensual pleasures, how could the young prince withstand the temptation and enticing lures of all those things ? He would not. Moreover, in the system of republic, princes had great scope to advance on merit. In the republican system, qualities counted, they were worshipped. The unworthy or mediocre had no place in the system. So all thought that with his own meritorious qualities, one day Prince Vardhamana would occupy the highest place Vardhamana would of among nire hundred ninety nine kings of Vaishal, he would be crowned and enthroned. there would be his coronation ceremony and therein he would be bathed by pouring on his head holy water of the locus-lake. Some thought
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Request by nuine Lokundik gods for dharmatirthpravartan