Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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The whole village gathered in a meeting to which Rohaka was specially invited, to discuss what could be done about the elephant. Rohaka advised them not to neglect the usual food that the elephant is given and only wait patiently to see how things develop. One night, the elephant died. Rohaka next morning instructed the villagers to convey to the king the following message: "Your Majesty, today the elephant does not sit down nor can he stand up. He does not eat any of his food nor does he defecate. He does not even breath. In fact, he does not make any movement whatsoever." When the king heard this message, he asked, "Is he dead ?" The villagers replied, "You may say so, your Majesty, not we." The king remained silent as the villagers left the palace.
SEND ME YOUR WELL
On another occasion, the royal messenger arrived in the village of Rohaka with a peremptory order, "That well in your village full of fresh and sweet water should immediately be sent to me. I want it." The villagers felt completely confounded by the king's order till Rohaka came to their rescue. He told the king's messenger to convey to the king the following request. "We do have that well that you desire but it is after all a rustic well. Like the rustic people, it is shy by nature. We people gain confidence only when we are in the company of knowledgeable persons. Therefore, we would request Your Majesty to send a well from your city to escort ours. Our well will be too willing to come to you." Now it was the turn of the royal messengers to feel confounded. However they conveyed the message to the king who was happy to be convinced of Rohaka's intelligence.
SHIFTING OF THE FOREST
The king on another occasion ordered the villagers to shift a certain forest which was on the eastern side of the village to the west. The king waited to see what the people of Rohaka's village would now do. However, Rohaka advised them to shift their settlement to the east of the forest so that the forest will be on their west. The king's messenger conveyed it to him and he felt satisfied.