“How much has the intense greed of treasure buried in the ground, led both of you astray in the four categories of incarnations, Vijaysinh!” Tirthankar Ajitdev said while addressing me. “Your life span in hell was over. You were born again in this region.
There lived a merchant named Shalibhadra in a village called Shrimant. His wife’s name was Nandini. You incarnated as their son named Baalsundar. You were a humble and cultured son of polite and ethical parents. You lived a simple and moral life.
You entered puberty.
One day, due to the result of good deeds in the past, a wise and soulful monk named Sheeldev arrived in the same village. You saw a saint for the first time in your life. Immense joy arose within you. You requested him to halt there for the next few days. He halted.
You started going to him everyday. Along with staying in good company, you also got the opportunity to serve him. Your devotion increased day by day.
• The saint gave you the knowledge of the soul.
• He gave the true identity and importance of Guru.
• He gave the realization of the divine nature of the soul.
• He explained the vows of householders and saints.
• He told about the concept of heaven and salvation.
About a month came to an end.
Saint Sheeldev said to you, “Baalsundar, a month will be over. So now, we will have to go elsewhere from here.”
You said, “Gurudev, you have bestowed immense favours on me. I can never repay your favours! Gurudev! Please grant me the vows of householders. I will follow those vows till my last breath.”
You accepted the vows of householders. For the first time in the eternal life cycle, you attained Jindharm. Your joy, zeal and ecstasy were overflowing. You followed the vows of householders throughout your life.
Even in the moments of death, you kept the qualities of equanimity and selflessness alive. You reincarnated in heaven and were immersed in the enjoyment of heavenly pleasures for innumerable years.
***
Your life span in heaven came to an end.
You were born in Hastinapur City of this state. You incarnated in the womb of Kantimati, the wife of a merchant named Suhasti. Your charm was incomparable. You were named Samudradutt since your mother saw an ocean in her dream when you came in her womb. Your upbringing began in full fledge.
In the same year, your brother of previous life, Chandsen, who had gone to hell, completed his life in hell and incarnated in the womb of your housemaid Somila. When he was born, he was named Mangalak.
When you became young, a great Acharya named Anangdev came to Hastinapur. In the previous life, you had increased the feeling of devotion towards saints. That is why, on seeing the Acharya here, you got extremely happy. You worshipped them. Acharya blessed you with ‘Dharmlabh’. He gave you the teachings of spirituality. You liked the vows of householders. You lawfully accepted them. The maid's son Mangalak was like your friend. He also accepted the vows to please you.
One month had passed; Acharyaji left from there and went elsewhere. Both you and Mangalak followed the vows. But Mangalak followed the vows only to please you. He had hatred and jealousy towards you. He only pretended to be your friend, while you had full faith in him.
You got married.
You got immersed in worldly pleasures after marrying Jinmati, the daughter of a merchant in Laxminilay. After a year, Jinmati’s brother came to your place and took his sister to Laxminilay. Four months later, Achal Shresthi’s message arrived, ‘Come and take Jinmati with you.’
Your father told you, “Dear, you go to Laxminilay and bring our daughter-in-law. If you feel it is necessary, then take two or four men along with you. The route is long and difficult too.”
You said, “Father, I will take Mangalak with me. No one else is required.”
One day, both of you left for Laxminilay with the necessary materials. Mangalak had hidden a sharp knife tied to his waist. There was a fear of wild animals in that area. But both of you were fearless, powerful and traversing comfortably while talking.
After travelling for a few days, you reached the foothills of Laxmi Mountain. You had to go to the city of Laxminilay after crossing this mountain.
You rested at the foothills and spent the night there. Early in the morning, you started climbing the mountain. You continued to climb for six hours.
You reached at a flat area on top of the mountain. You both were very tired and thought of taking rest for a while. In front of the field, there was a grove of trees. A waterfall was flowing nearby; there was a cool shade. Cool wind was blowing. You both went and sat there.
Your eyes went to the roots of a tree. You were surprised. The roots of that tree were coming out.
You asked Mangalak, “Mangalak, this tree is of Chakrabad, isn’t it?”
Mangalak said, “Yes, this is Chakrabad.”
“Look, the roots of this tree are coming out. I think there must be treasure under this tree.”
Mangalak said, “Should I dig and find it?”
“No, no, I was just joking! Anyway, I am not interested in wealth. I have a lot of wealth. I said this because of my jovial nature!”
“Okay, you got curious. I too am curious now. I will dig and see!”
“Let it be, Mangalak. Perhaps, there may be wealth. Yet in such deserted and rugged areas, its protector might be some heavenly god or animal. Why invite unnecessary trouble?”
But after hearing about the treasure, he started drooling. Despite your repeated refusal, he found a sharp pointed piece of wood and slowly started digging below that tree. Digging little deep, he saw the top of the treasure trove. He danced seeing it.
“Oh! This is indeed treasure, a great treasure.”
You said to Mangalak, “You fill this pit. Such treasures are not worth accepting! If a cursed treasure enters the house, it will destroy the house! So don’t wish for it. Moreover, don’t even talk about it to anyone else!”
Mangalak said, “Okay, as my friend wishes! Otherwise, I do not feel any fear or apprehension in taking the treasure. Whatever you get from the treasure, you can take it and keep it in your father-in-law’s house. From there, we will be able to make arrangements to transport it to Hastinapur later.”
After listening to Mangalak, you said, “Look, Mangalak, do not be greedy for this treasure. I don’t like this!”
“I’m not greedy. I was saying for your benefit!” said Mangalak.
You said in a slightly harsh voice, “You don’t need to think about my benefit. Come on, let’s get out of here quickly. Descending the mountains will also take quite some time!”
Mangalak did fill the pit, but his intention had changed. ‘He will definitely take out this treasure secretly without informing me! It’s impossible that he doesn’t get tempted seeing such a treasure! But he is talking so smoothly so that he doesn’t have to share it with me! But, I am no less. I will definitely grab this treasure! This is not a small treasure. It is very huge. There is so much wealth in this treasury that there won’t be a shortage for seven generations of mine! It’s possible to achieve something like this only by good fortune. I will not let this opportunity pass by like this.’
Both of you started descending the hill. There was no attraction towards that treasure in your mind. But Mangalak’s mind was lost in that treasure. He had a very strong attraction for the treasure! You were lost in your thoughts and Mangalak was occupied in his thoughts! He was thinking of grabbing the treasure even if it meant killing you. But he couldn’t come up to any conclusion!
You both came down the hill.
On reaching the outer garden of Laxminilay, you said to Mangalak, “Mangalak! You go to the city, meet my father-in-law, Achal Shresthi, inform him about our arrival and know the situation there.”
Mangalak came out of the garden. He was standing under a tree. Mahabharat of thoughts was hovering on the Kurukshetra of his mind. ‘If we enter the city, this man will take out the entire treasure with the help of his father-in-law and digest it and I will not even come to know! So, it is better we move towards Hastinapur from here itself and I will kill him on the way! And then I’ll go up the hill with ease and take out that treasure! What should I do so that Samudradutt does not enter the city?’ Mangalak started thinking. He was intelligent. He made a plan and jumped up with joy!
‘Yes! This is a great plan! Samudradutt will surely agree to me since he has full faith in me. I must take advantage of that trust! So what if he is my friend? After all, I am his maid’s son, right? And then, who doesn’t betray for wealth in this world?’
Mangalak came to you. He had returned late. His face was dull. There was despair in his eyes. Your heart shook! Mangalak remained silent for a while. You got restless.
You asked, “What is the matter, Mangalak? Why are you looking so stressed? Is everything fine at my in-laws' place? Is Jinmati alright?”
“If everything was fine, I wouldn’t have come running to you. But…”
“What happened at my in-laws’ place? Tell me. My mind is very restless,” you said.
“But if I speak the truth, your heart will shatter. You will bang your head! Taking care of you will be...” Mangalak’s voice blocked while speaking.
Your condition had become strange. You grabbed Mangalak by both the shoulders and shook him.
You said, “Tell me whatever the matter is. I will listen peacefully!”
“Friend, Jinmati has brought great defame to both the father and the father-in-law’s family.”
“What do you mean?” A tide of pain started rising in your chest!
“She fell in love with a rich young man of this city and has ran away to his house!”
"What are you saying, Mangalak? Jinmati can never take such a wrong step. Somebody has given you false information to mislead you and me.”
“No, friend! I would not even believe it if someone else had told this. But Achal Shresthi himself said this while shedding tears from his eyes! Your mother-in-law doesn’t even come out of the room.
Achal Shresthi had said to me, ‘Brother Mangalak, it’s time for us to take poison and die! That wicked has not only ruined her own life but hasn’t left us worth living in this society either! Now how should we face our son-in-law? What should we tell our in-laws? You came here yourself and that’s the reason we are opening the wound of our heart to you. You are a close friend of our son-in-law.’ Poor Shresthi cried. He did not have food since the past three days. Friend, even I started crying seeing him. Seth consoled me and I came back here.”
You (Samudradutt), got immersed in deep thoughts after listening to Mangalak. You knew Jinmati, your wife very well! She was pure, virtuous and a believer of this principle – ‘Even if life is lost, modesty must be saved.’ Could she take such a wrong step? Mangalak says that she has settled in another man’s house. I don’t understand anything!”
You said to Mangalak, “Mangalak, you are my friend. Do me a favour – find out the house of the man whom Jinmati has started living with. If you do not want to meet Jinmati, then it is fine. But where does she live? Find and let me know!”
“But why? What will you gain from this?"
“I want to meet Jinmati!”
“Have you gone crazy? Just think about what kind of problem can arise on you if you go to meet Jinmati. Have you ever thought about this? Her lover will strike a deadly attack on you. If given a chance, Jinmati herself will kill you! Are you unaware of a female’s character? Didn’t Acharya Anangdev tell us about female character? A woman loves one person with her heart, talks lovingly with another and hands over her body to some other person. This female character is very intense! Yes Jinmati will act pure when she is with you. But after coming here at her maternal place, her mind must have become sinful!
As a friend, I advise you to forget Jinmati now! You will find many better women in Hastinapur City! Let us go straight to Hastinapur from here!”
You calmly listened to Mangalak’s words. The darkness of nostalgia had descended in your mind! You wanted Jinmati with all your heart! And you came to receive her only on the message of your father-in-law.
For a moment, she seemed innocent and spotless to you and the next moment she looked like an idol of sins! The words of Mangalak were hurting your mind again and again, but the lightning of disbelief was also flashing on the words of Mangalak!
You asked Mangalak, “Mangalak, are we being deceived or betrayed in all these matters? Think well! Look again! We should not leave here in a hurry. Whatever you do, but meet Jinmati. Meet her at least once!
Hearing your words, Mangalak expressed his anger and said, “What shall I explain you now? And how do I explain? Your attachment towards Jinmati is false. I am not going back to the city! If you do not trust my words, then you yourself go to your in-laws place and see the sorrowful scene there with your own eyes. Then you will believe my words! And if you want, then go meet Jinmati and her lover too! What more can I say! After all, you are my Seth! Whatever happens, I have to keep your dignity and I can’t leave your side!”
“Okay, since you are insisting so much, I will agree to you. Let’s go back to our city.”
From there, you both headed towards Hastinapur.
