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mind has gone astray, the best of advice has only reverse effects. He said, "I don't want advice, I want only help. Help me in this battle and victory will be mine." Thus, he remained stubborn. It is a long and terrible story, but what we must reflect on is this what did Kūnika eventually gain after so much struggle? A defeated Vaiśālī and heaps of dead soldiers. A victory which is much more dreadful than defeat. You will not find another instance of human slaughter of such magnitude in the history of ancient times, apart from the battle of the Mahabharata.
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Conflict resolution
What was the root of such a tragedy? One unrestrained, uncontrolled desire! A thoughtless greed which had no necessity or importance in life. Just think, did Kūņika's kingdom lack in elephants? Or necklaces? So why was such a terrible battle waged? Just to satiate his blatant desires? The battle of desires was not won even after the bloodshed of lakhs of innocent people. The lust for wealth, woman and land has always sown the seed for battle.
The message that resonates loud and clear is that desires cannot nurture life, rather, they are the reason for destruction and sorrow. Therefore, it is necessary to exercise control over desires.
After the conquest of Vaiśālī, Kūņika's desires took greater flight. He now aspired to become an emperor of many kingdoms. When he expressed this desire to Lord Mahāvīra, the Lord explained to him, ‘Kūņika, this ambition is mere hopelessness, an empty shell. There are already twelve cakravartis. In this avasarpiņī kāla, there cannot be any more cakravartīs. Kindly close your doors to such impractical dreams. Listen to me and accept that the outcome of negative deeds will always be negative."
But Kunika did not heed the good advice. You will now ask me - if he was such an ardent devotee of the Lord, then why did he not listen? When an evil spirit comes between God and man, it steers man away from God. Kūņika's pride and ego became a demon. His desire to become a cakravarti did not subside even with Mahāvira's words of wisdom.
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