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97. THE TRUE RENOUNCER
It is generally said that people who really have anything to renounce and renounce it are the real renouncers. For example Bharata, Jambu and such other kings who had abundant wealth and pleasures to renounce. Does it mean that poor men like Dramaka who have nothing particular to renounce cannot be considered true renouncers? The master says they surely are entitled to be so considered because they have given up three invaluable gems fire, water and woman.
A humble woodcutter, Dramaka by name, renounced worldly life at the feet of Gautamasvami. When he went around in the city, begging for food, people generally scoffed at him and his renunciation. Dramaka disapproved of the cynical attitude of the city and requested his teacher to select another place for him where he would not experience such a scoffing attitude and concentrate on his own studies. The teacher therefore asked Abhaya to permit him and Dramaka to shift to another place. Abhaya wanted to know why the present place had suddenly become unworthy of their residence. The teacher explained the discomfiture of Dramaka. Abhaya said he would convince the people that even poor people like Dramaka had every reason to be considered renouncers in the right sense of the word.
He brought three jewels and placing them in front of himself he announced that any one who renounced fire, water and woman would receive the three gems as a reward. but no one from that town came forward to claim them. Every one said that it was impossible to live without fire, water and woman. Abhaya proved to the people that one cannot be a true renouncer unless one had renounced fire, water and woman. This is just what a man like Dramaka has done.
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