________________
DISCOURSE 63
197
bought them! She is paying me the entire amount in cash.
This is really amazing....Really amazing !". Bhadramatha gave him sixteen lakh rupees; took the blankets and sent him away. She cut each blanket in two; and gave the thirty two pieces to her thirty two daughters-in-law.
Now, I would like to ask you this question. Why did not Bhadramatha give a blanket to Shalibhadra ? Why did she not keep one for herself ? She did not take even a piece. I think you have heard this story before. Have you ever thought of this calmly ? THE GREATEST FAULT OF THE PRESENT-DAY PARENTS
From the Audience : We merely hear these things; but we do not think of them deeply.
Maharajashri : That is a great fault of yours. You must soon discard this fault. Listen to discourses and think deeply about them. If you ponder over them you will find in them precious pearls of thought. You will find in them ideas which will be very useful to you in your life."
When the thirty two daughters-in-law found that their mother-in-law had not kept anything for herself; not even a piece; and that she cut the sixteen blankets into 32 pieces and gave one each to them, they would have felt a great affection for their mother-in-law. Human nature is such. Human beings show affection and regard to those who are selfless and generous. It is absolutely necessary that daughters-in-law should have affection and regard for their mother-in-law. If the daughtersin-law are happy and satisfied their husbands will be happy and peaceful. Parents also desire that their sons should be happy. They perform the marriages of their sons only so that they might be happy. If your daughter-in-law is happy, she will give happiness to her husband. You must keep your daughtersin-law happy and satisfied from this point of view.. Another point is this. Would you not feel happy if your daughters-in-law are always eager and ready to keep their husbands happy and satisfied ?
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
