________________
39. THE STORY OF SUBAHU
(This story illustrates how good acts done in previous lives come to be rewarded.)
in the city of Hastisirsa, king Adinasatru ruled. He had a large harem of one thousand queens. The chief of them was Dhārini. After seeing an auspicious dream, Dhārini gave birth to prince Subāhu. When he grew up to be a young man, his parents married him to five hundred princesses from well known royal families. They also had constructed five hundred lofty palaces for his wives.
When the great ascetic Mahāvira was on a visit to the town, the king and the prince called on him and when they heard his illuminating sermons, Subāhu declared his intention that he would like to take the five Lesser Vows and Seven Disciplinary Vows as a householder. Mahāvira administered the vows and Subāhu became a devout householder.
One of the disciples of Mahāvira happened to meet prince Subāhu and he was quite struck by the beauty and brightness of the young prince. He therefore asked Mahavira how exactly the prince managed to get such wonderful splendour which is rare for human beings. Perhaps it had something to do with his former existence. Mahavira confirmed that it indeed was so. Mahāvira gave the following account:
It happened in the city of Hastināpura during the visit of an elderly ascetic of high birth, Dharmaghosa by name. His disciple Sudatta observed many monthly fasts, studied the sacred texts and begged his alms with the permission of his master in the most
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
