Tirthankar Mahavir

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

Page 84

Showing the righteous path to Acchandak, a thief and an evil doer
Thus thinking, Mahavira declared to the people: "I can see jewels, gold, silver, etc. concealed in the earth. I can tell you what is happening even in the remote places in the world. Come to me and know the secret of your fate!" A shepherd came forward and said to Mahavira, "If you are really a great yogi and saint, then tell me as to what I ate yesterday." Mahavira answered unassumingly, "O friend, yesterday you ate gruel and kamga-rice, then you took your cows out to graze, and during the night you wept bitterly while having a terrible dream." The shepherd was struck with wonder. He related his miraculous experience to everybody in the village. The news spread rapidly in the village. Every one was talking about the great yogi, who could know secrets of others' mind with his yogic powers, who had arrived
in the village. They also said that Acchandaka was no match to such a yogi.
The people were attracted towards Mahavira just as ants towards a lump of sugar. He remained surrounded by them. Things gifted or presented by them were accumulated in heaps before Mahavira. Acchandaka was greatly perturbed and embarrassed. So he contrived to prove Mahavira a liar. He arrived where Mahavira was. There was a blade of wild grass in his hand. He shouted and said, "O Mahavira, if you really know the future, then tell me if I shall be able to make two pieces of this blade of grass by stretching it with my hands."
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