सचित्र ज्ञाताधर्मकथाङ्ग सूत्र- Illustrated Jnata Dharma Kathanga Sutra (Part-1)

Introduction Title-Utkshipta Jnata or "the tale of the elevated". The word Utkshipta means elevated or raised. It indicates a condition where a thing rises from its normal state to a higher state and remains there. The context may be physical, mental or spiritual. This story includes this elevated state in all these three contexts and the inspiring cause is inherent compassion. In the herculean task of rising and remaining in that elevated state this feeling of compassion plays a unique and important role. This story vividly highlights that role.

Gist of the Story-King Shrenik and queen Nanda of Rajagriha (Magadh) had a son named Abhay Kumar. He was extremely intelligent and worldly wise. On behalf of King Shrenik he managed all the affairs of the state. King Shrenik had another beautiful queen whose name was Dharini. One night she saw a dream of a giant white elephant entering her mouth and got up. King Shrenik and the dream-diviners interpreted that Queen Dharini will give birth to a brilliant son.

Queen Dharini became pregnant and during the third month of pregnancy she had a desire to enjoy untimely monsoon. She informed King Shrenik. When the king could not come up with any solution he was frustrated and worried.

He told everything to his able son Abhay Kumar, who assured the king, invoked a friendly god and sought his help. This god created an enchanting atmosphere of untimely monsoon and fulfilled the queen's desire.

In due course Dharini gave birth to a child who grew into a healthy and intelligent youth. After proper education he was married to eight beautiful princesses.

Shraman Bhagavan Mahavir once arrived in Rajagriha city. Finding about the arrival of Shraman Bhagavan Mahavir, throngs of people came to pay homage to him and listen to his discourse. Megh Kumar also came there. The profound and inspiring discourse of Bhagavan Mahavir evoked feelings of detachment in Megh Kumar. He decided to get initiated into Mahavir's order. King Shrenik and Megh Kumar's mother tried instilling fear and antipathy for ascetic discipline. But the awakened spirit is never afraid of any hurdle or pain. Accepting his request Shraman Bhagavan Mahavir initiated Megh Kumar into the order.

On the very first night, being the junior most, Megh Kumar was allotted the last place, near the gate, to sleep. During the night, for their essential duties, many ascetics kept on going out and coming back. Disturbed by all the commotion of this perambulation Megh Kumar could not sleep a wink throughout the night. Next morning he went to Shraman Bhagavan Mahavir who became aware of Megh's problem without his telling. To pacify his inner turmoil Bhagavan narrated a story- "Megh! Once upon a time in the valley of the Vaitadhya mountain there lived a giant elephant named Sumeruprabh. Once, driven by a forest-fire and, in search of water it entered a large pond and was caught in the swamp. Just at that moment another strong and young elephant arrived and driven by a feeling of animosity from the past, it pierced Sumeruprabh's back with its sharp tusks. The elephant died suffering.

In the next life it was born a red elephant named Meruprabh in the valley of the Vindhyas. Once, seeing a forest fire it recalled the experience from its last birth. It marked a large area of one Yojan and with the help of the herd cleared it of all combustible things like dry leaves, logs etc. in order to take refuge in some such contingency. During the next summer once again a terrible forest-fire started. To save itself, the red elephant rushed towards the arena that it had cleared. In that arena numerous animals had already taken refuge.

When the red elephant reached there it also squeezed in and stood where it found a little space.

"After sometime it lifted one of its legs to scratch some itching part of its body. At that instant a small rabbit crept in and occupied that space. When the elephant wanted to put back its leg on the ground it found that a tiny rabbit is occupying that space. The realization that its leg would crush the rabbit to death overwhelmed it with compassion. Instead of putting its feet back on the ground the elephant kept it lifted. As a result of its pure feeling of compassion it reduced the period of the cycle of rebirths and also earned a human life-span.

"The forest fire burned for two and a half days. By then the elephant was completely exhausted. With the desire to rush away from that place, as soon as it stretched its cramped leg it toppled and fell on the ground. It suffered excruciating agony for three days and died. From there it descended into the womb of queen Dharini in this town of Rajagriha. Megh !. You were that elephant in your earlier life.

"Megh! Just consider this that in the life you spent as an animal you were . still inspired by the compassion for living beings. In this life as a human being though you have disciplined your senses, the very first night you have failed to tolerate even the slightest of inconveniences. The good deed from the life as an animal has pushed you towards spiritual light; do not be driven back to darkness by the infirm mundane attitude. Wake up and know that tolerance inspired by purity of purpose leads to great achievements."

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