Book Title: Ten Universal Virtues
Author(s): Ram Kumar Nandi
Publisher: Ram Kumar Nandi

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Page 64
________________ Amitmati replied, "O Ksheerkadamb! The untruthful Prince Vasu who is maddened with the pride of royal treasures and your son Parvata who misinterprets the Holy Scriptures will go to hell. The Seth's son Narad who honestly observes the vows of a householder and possesses the jewel of Right Belief, and you yourself shall enter heaven." On hearing these words from the mouth of the divine God, Ksheerkadamb out of aversion for the world and his own body developed the feeling of renunciation. So he got himself initiated into Jain monkshood in the presence of his teacher. He uprooted with his own hands his lustrous beautiful dark hair. In the end after a noble death - the Samadhi Maran of a saint - he entered his heavenly abode i.e., Paradise. On the other hand, Parvata succeeded his teacher father. He became a teacher and started teaching the students. One day Narad taking a present of garments paid a visit to his teacher's widowed wife - the mother like Chitravali and met his classmate Parvata as well. After making proper inquiries from his teacher's wife about her well-being and giving her the present, he reached the school run by Parvata. By chance at that time Parvata made a blunder. He explained to his students that the word 'Ajairyasthavayam' means to 'perform Yajna by sacrificing a he-goat.' Narad objected to it and said, "O learned Parvata! Do not give this wrong explanation. Aja' means the paddy, which has lost the power of germination. Hence the phrase 'Ajairyasthavayam' means that a Yajna should be performed for health, peace and prosperity by offering three-year-old paddy. My friend! Only thus had our highly learned proficient teacher explained this word to us. It does not befit you to give a wrong interpretation of the right word after inheriting your father's high seat of a teacher. It seems your mind has gone astray and your wisdom has become extinct." On hearing his friend's words full of wisdom, Parvata said, "O Narad! The explanation given by me is fully true and correct. If you prove it untrue and inappropriate, let me be punished by chopping off my tongue." Narad said, "But who will decide our controversy?" At this parvarta said, "The justice loving king Vasu will decide our controversy and we shall come to know his decision about the truth or untruth of your explanation by attending his court tomorrow." When Chitrawali, the widow of Ksheerkadamb and mother of Parvata heard this, she sent for Parvata and counseling him said, "My son! To give such wrong explanation is a cause of downfall and leads to hell. Therefore, give up your obstinacy in sticking to your wrong interpretation, otherwise you will have to go to hell." But Parvata declined to follow the advice of his mother. He was adamant on his own version. It has been rightly said: 'vinash kalai viprit budhi' 'A man loses his wisdom in adversity'. Parvata's mother knew well that her own son was wrong and talking rot, and to favor him would signify moral degradation. Even then infatuated with affection for her son, she went to king Vasu to plead for him. She spoke, "O, king! Once you had promised to grant me a boon. Today I have come to you to ask for the boon." Create PDF with PDF4U. If you wish to remove this line, please click here to purchase the full version

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