SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 2 - TANGLES OF HATRED

Pushed into the well by a friend

My life of nine Sagaropam in Brahmadevlok came to an end. For innumerable years, I enjoyed the divine pleasures of heaven.
I was born again in this western Mahavideh (in Jambudweep). A businessman named Ratnasagar lived in Ratnapur city. His wife’s name was Shrimati. I was born as their son.
Yagyadutt’s soul was born in the animal kingdom after completing the life of hell. He became a wild dog. After dying, he went back to hell. There, he suffered severe pain for three Sagaropam and was born as an animal again. He reincarnated in the animal kingdom several times. He was immersed in many kinds of sorrows.  Finally, he died and took birth as a human in the same city as me.
He was born as the son of Narmada, the maid of our own house.
It was my past karmas that were bringing him close to me.
I was named Chandrasar.
Narmada’s son was named Adhanya.
Narmada used to stay in our mansion only. Thus, since childhood, Adhanya and I used to play together. We used to fight too. My parents were very careful about my education. I was admitted to a school where only the prince and high class children. Adhanya did not study at all. Since childhood, he had started doing household chores with his mother.
I was the son of a wealthy father. Adhanya was the maid’s son. Still, I used to like him.
• He had become the cause of my death in Soma’s incarnation.
• Even in the incarnation of elephant, he had killed me deceitfully.
• In Chakradev’s incarnation, I got the punishment of exile because of him.
This means that in all the three lives, he did wrong to me. Yet, I don’t know why, some sinful karmas were forcing me to get attracted towards him. I became friends with him. My mind was very clean, there was no deceit of any kind.
Hatred never arose in my heart for him. There was no animosity or any feeling of enmity. Whereas he always had negative feelings for me. Yet karma used to bring us together in some form or the other! And that too in the incarnation of humans! Only once when I was an elephant, he met me in the form of a parrot. That was an exception.
There was a gap of countless years in between. He would live in hell and I would reside in heaven. Still, the feeling of enmity which was hidden in his mind did not go away and my friendliness did not diminish. Those feelings had deeply stuck in the soul.
The seeds of friendship were sown in my soul in the life of Soma. And seeds of enmity were sown in his soul in the life of Rudradev. Their roots had spread quite deeply.
Singing the song of life on the tune of time, both of us reached the threshold of youth.
I was married to a beautiful and virtuous girl named Chandrakanta, the daughter of a businessman. Adhanya was married to some other maid’s daughter. Both of us were passing time drowned in the pleasures that we had received.
In many small and big incidents, Adhanya would cheat with me. Though he used to lie at every step, yet I would not leave his company. Despite getting caught, he never admitted his mistake. He never apologized. Sometimes, he would try at my own house. I would explain to him but that bad habit of his did not go away.
Once he committed atrocities on a businessman’s daughter who lived a short distance from our house. The brothers of that girl came to know about this. They came together and fought with Adhanya. When I came to know, I went and rescued him. He had been beaten up badly. Inspite of such a disgusting act, I brought Adhanya to my house and gave him first aid. When he recorded, he got ready to quarrel with those who bashed him. I made him calm down somehow.
Many of my relatives told me, “Remove Adhanya out of your house. Such a wicked person shouldn’t be kept at home.”
But I kept defending Adhanya in every way. In this way, the journey of life was going on.
Amidst these days, a learned Acharya came to our city. His name was Vijayvardhan. He was the Guru of many monks. He was virtuous, gentle and a great scholar.
I said to Adhanya, "Come on, let’s go to visit Acharyaji. We will also get an opportunity to listen to his sermons.”
Adhanya said coldly, "I don’t want to come. If you want to go, then you go. I neither believe in religion nor do I like it."
He didn’t come with me. I felt sad about it but there was no other choice. I went to visit Acharyaji with my wife Chandrakanta. My wife had grown up in a very religious environment. She was more interested in religion than me.
We worshipped Acharyaji and sat there. Acharyaji preached about Dharm and its usefulness and practicality in human life. One thing deeply struck my mind that ‘all kinds of happiness are obtained from Dharm only.’
After returning home, these thoughts kept swirling in my mind.
I said to my wife, "Till date, I have not done any kind of religious activity in my life. I have only lived amidst colours, attachment and enjoyment. I must have done Dharm in my previous life as a result of which I have received various kinds of worldly pleasures in this life. This point is well understood by me. Now if you wish and give your consent, then let us both accept the twelve vows of Shravak Dharm."
Chandrakanta said with joy, "Today, a golden sun has risen for me! Such a wonderful thought has arisen in your heart! Tomorrow morning, we will go to Acharyaji and adopt the twelve vows of householders."
Chandrakanta appreciated my feelings. This made my feeling stronger. The very next morning, we went to Gurudev and expressed our feelings.
Gurudev said, “An auspicious wish has arisen in your minds. Today, I will explain to you the twelve vows of household life. Vows taken with complete understanding can be followed well."
Acharyaji explained the twelve vows in his sweet and compassion-filled voice. Both of us accepted the vows under his guidance. Taking Gurudev’s blessings, both of us came home.
Adhanya did not like this. Yet he did not protest openly. I never used to talk to him about vows or renunciation. He lived in his own way. I used to follow the path that I had chosen.
***
One day, a news spread in the city, 'The king has died all of a sudden in the nearby town named Rajatpur. All the men of the city have to go to see him for the last time. This is the order of the minister.’
Our king was adored by the subjects. As soon as this news arrived, all men immediately started running from their houses towards Rajatpur. Only the old, handicapped and sick people stayed at home. Women and children also stayed at home.
From the minister to the city guards, everyone reached Rajatpur. Our entire city had become like a city without men. Adhanya and I had also reached Rajatpur.
A Bhil chieftain named Vindhyaketu, who lived at a distance of 12 kilometres from our city took advantage of this opportunity. When he came to know about the condition of our city, he along with his five hundred companions attacked the city.
He robbed the royal palace, mansions and houses. Along with wealth, some beautiful women were also taken away by the Bhils.
When we returned from Rajatpur, the condition of Ratnapur was as painful as that of a graveyard. Women were crying loudly, children were weeping. Being helpless, the handicapped and weak people narrated the devastation caused by the Bhils.
Adhanya and I rushed home. The wealth which was kept outside in the house, was looted. But the goods hidden under the ground were safe. So, it wasn’t a great loss.
I called out, "Chandrakanta, wherever you are hiding, come out. The robbers are gone. We have come home."
But how would Chandrakanta reply when she wasn’t at home? A Bhil commander had picked her up. I got worried.
"What should I do now? What will the Bhils do to Chandrakanta? That poor innocent women! How will she protect her chastity in front of those demons? Although she would prefer saving her purity even at cost of her life, but how will she live alone without me?"
Many such thoughts started flashing in my mind. I drowned in despair. I had become bewildered.
Meanwhile, Devsharma Brahmin, who was my father’s special friend, came to my house. He had received the news that my wife had been taken away by the Bhils.
He came to me and said, "Don’t worry. Leave your despair and anxiety. A few years ago, these Bhils had attacked a city named Shristhal of this country. They had taken away many men and women. But he did not force any women into molestation or rape. All the relatives of those men and women who gave money according to the demand of the Bhils, they were freed by them. Thus, when those Bhils reach their destination, you also reach there. Give them money according to their will, they will surely leave your wife. In this way, you will be able to bring back Chandrakanta."
For me Devsharma was like an angel. I bowed to him. He gave me blessings and returned with a heavy heart. My mind felt a little assured.
I told Adhanya, "We should keep finding out when the Bhils will reach their spot. When they reach, we also have to reach there to free Chandrakanta."
Adhanya said, "What if those Bhils don’t leave Chandrakanta?
I said, "They will leave Chandrakanta on paying the amount they ask for. They do not oppress women.”
Adhanya said, “But they have robbed the money. From where will you bring so much money to pay them?”
I said, "I have money. The precious gems that I had hidden under the ground are safe. Each gem will be worth Rs.1.25 lakh. We will take those gems with us."
Adhanya’s eyes widened. The fact that my precious gems were safe sounded unpleasant to him. Still he agreed to come with me. He had his selfish motive behind this too. Neither did he have any sympathy in his heart on Chandrakanta being kidnapped nor was there any sorrow in his mind for the robbery in my house! He was busy thinking of a new plan in his mind.
A few days passed.
The news arrived in the city that the Bhil commander had reached their destination. I prepared to leave. I got some snacks prepared to be eaten on the way. Filling breakfast in one bag and gems in another similar bag, I left with Adhanya.
I gave him one bag to hold and I picked up the other bag. The bag with snacks was heavier while the one with was comparatively lighter. Turn by turn, we would exchange the bags and that’s how our journey moved ahead!
Thoughts of getting Chandrakanta released were running in my mind
A plan to snatch the gems was taking shape in Adhanya’s mind. But I had complete faith in him. That’s why I had taken him with me.
I told Adhanya, "We are going in the area of Bhils, the village of bandits. So, we have to be very careful. It shouldn’t happen that they take the precious gems and don’t even set Chandrakanta free!”
Adhanya said, "Don’t worry about it at all. Hand me the bag of gems. Only after we get Chandrakanta will we give the gems to the Bhil chieftain. We don’t have to hand over all the gems to them. Will give only two or three gems! The rest have to be kept hidden. The bag should be kept in such a way that the Bhils don’t catch sight of it. You don’t you worry, I will complete this task very well."
They were having such discussions on the way. The journey was heading smoothly. While walking, Adhanya was walking looking for something on either side of the road.
I thought he was searching for something.
I asked, "Adhanya, what are you looking for in the jungle?”
"Look at the sky. It will be dark soon. We have to spend the night in a safe place, isn’t it? That’s why, I’m looking for a place. If a hut is found somewhere, then we can spend the night comfortably."
I thought he was right. I also started looking on both sides of the road while walking.
Since a long time, the bag of snacks was in Adhanya’s hand and the bag of gems was with me. I exchanged bags with him; gave him the bag of gems and picked up the bag of snacks.
He knew that I had given him the bag of gems. He was happy within. But after walking some distance, he started appearing unwell and restless.
I asked, "You look stressed, what’s the matter? Are you tired?"
"No, I am not tired but thirsty. It would be good if we find a well nearby. We have a rope and a vessel.”
A rope with the small vessel was hanging on Adhanya’s shoulder.
“I’ll also search, incase we find a well. I’ll get some water for you then, and myself have some.”
We kept walking. A village appeared at some distance. The village lamps were dimly visible. I thought, ‘This is the outskirts of the village so there must be a well here."
Meanwhile, Adhanya screamt, "Hey! A well is visible here on the left."
I said, “Let me go and check if there is water in that well.”
I reached the edge of the well.
Adhanya followed me with silent steps.
As I bent towards the well to check for water, Adhanya pushed me into the well.