Tirthankar Mahavira A Biographical in Verse

Author(s): Mukesh Chhajer
Publisher: Mukesh Chhajer

Page 23

Mukesh Chhajer
Three times it repeated and every time it was surprised As milk oozed out of the monk's feet Who still stood completely undisturbed With a compassionate smile like a blooming flower Confused, for the first time it was forced to realize The power of love over the power of hatred The monk looked at it with benign smile "O Chandakaushik, Rise above your venomous-self" Memories flooded past the serpent’s mind Opening the storehouse of its past lives Revealing the source of its anger and pain At last, it achieved tranquility and peace It vowed to change its ways from the day Born as a deva in Sehasrar heaven, in next life
As the monk moved from Shravasti Gaushalak decided to follow him along Under the cold and wind of the night He had trouble keeping up with the Lord At night, they stopped under a banyan tree While the monk busied himself with meditation Gaushalak joined other wayfarers Burning wood to keep themselves warm The fire spread as they slept That quickly reached monk's feet Who was engrossed deep within himself After testing his resolve for a while The fire bowed and then retreated
In the fifth year of his peregrination He ventured into Vajrabhumi, with Gaushalak by his side Harassed, abused, tortured by man He continued his journey all the same