Tirthankar Mahavir

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

Page 75

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
returned to the place where Mahavira was still standing engrossed in deep meditation. And to his utter surprise, he saw his bullocks sitting beside Mahavira. He became angry. He thought that Mahavira was a thief disguised as an ascetic. He considered him to be a hypocrite. He believed that Mahavira had hidden his bullocks for the whole night. He decided to punish Mahavira
for his evil intention.
In a fit of fury he rushed to beat Mahavira with the rope to which bullocks were tied. At that very moment Indra, the Lord of the Gods, who had unending devotion for Mahavira arrived there to see what Mahavira was doing on the first day cf his ascetic life. Indra noticed that the shepherd was about to strike Mahavira with the rope. He at once stopped the shepherd from doing that rash act. He caught hold of the rope and said, "O wicked man, do you know what are you doing? Do you know the man whom you want to strike with the rope ?"
The shepherd was taken aback on seeing Indra's divine lustre. On hearing his thundering voice, he at once threw away the rope. Indra said, “This man whom you regard a thief is Mahavira, who, having renounced his inexhaustible wealth and possessions, has assumed the mendicant's path for spiritual upliftment. How can he steal your bullocks ?
Is it not shameful for you to strike the brilliant son of king Siddhartha ?"
On hearing the words of Indra, the shepherd realised his mistake. He asked for Indra's forgiveness for his misdeed and falling at Mahavira's feet said, "O venerable Mahavira, kindly forgive me. I failed to recognise you. You who have renounced the kingdom was falsely regarded by me as a thiet. I am really a fool. Fie up on me for such a mean thought."
The venerable Mahavira's eyes were full of compassion. The shepherd saluted him, begged his forgiveness and went away with his bullocks. Then
Lord Indra preventing angry shepherd from attacking meditating Mahavira