Tirthankar Ajitdev was narrating the story of my previous lives filled with mysteries. Shikhi! There was a tremendous turmoil in my mind. At times, my mind used to get filled with joy while sometimes it would get restless with sorrow.
The Tirthankar’s words were flowing with a steady pace like a river.
“Mangalak reached Mt. Laxmi. He went where the wealth was buried. He slowly dug the ground. He saw the treasure. He started dancing on seeing the pot filled with gold coins. Then he buried it again. After this, he dragged big rocks and built a platform. There were trees around! He made that spot his abode. He started drinking water from the waterfall and filled his stomach by hunting. Struggling and enduring various kinds of difficulties, one day Mangalak succumbed to death on the same platform. The wild animals celebrated the feast of his dead body.
Mangalak died and was reincarnated in a hell named Tama. After completing a life span of innumerable years there, he took birth as a goat in an untouchable’s house in a town named Rashtravardhan. When the goat grew up, his owner took him to a nearby town named Jaysthal. His way passed through Mt. Laxmi. As soon as they came near the spot where the treasure was buried, the goat started jumping. He ran towards that spot and stood there. His owner went there and tried to pull the goat. He tried a lot, but the goat did not move. The goat had an attachment with that place since several lives. He did not want to leave that place. His owner started beating him. Still, the goat was not ready to go away from there. He started roaming there. The owner’s anger got out of control. He hit him with a dagger and killed him there itself. After dying, he reincarnated as a rat in the same place. Because of the attachment towards that wealth, the rat also built its burrow near it and started living there. He roamed around the treasure, played and danced there, and stayed as if it was protecting that wealth.
One day, a gambler came to that place. He sat under that tree to rest. The rat was frightened, ‘What if this man steals the wealth?’ The ran had an inexpressible doubt. He started moving around the gambler. The gambler watched the rat playfully upto two to four rounds. But rat came close and started encircling him. He tried to bite his feet. The gambler got annoyed. He threw a rock towards the rat. Struggling with pain, it died there.
After dying, the rat was reborn in the womb of that gambler’s wife named Durgila. She was a very ugly woman without nose and ears. His son also was born ugly. He was named Rudrachand. As he grew up, he started troubling the villagers. They also started harassing him. He started stealing. One day, the king’s soldiers caught him red handed and he was brought before the king. The king ordered him to be executed.
After death, he was born in hell.
After completing his life span in hell, he was reborn as the daughter of Ashokdutt and Shubhankara of this Laxminilay City. She was named Sridevi. She was beautiful, but lacked good qualities.
She used to speak sweet, but there was a deceit in her heart. When she grew old, she was married to Sagardutt of this city. After some time passed, Sridevi gave birth to a son. His name was Samudradutt. That Samudradutt is you! In the span of innumerable years in heaven, you experienced immense pleasure. After completing your life there, you were born to Sridevi. Slowly you grew up and reached your youth.
You were married to Nandini, the daughter of Ishvarskand.
Vijaysinh, you got your unfaithful friend Mangalak as your mother in this life. Sridevi was your mother, but she had a feeling of enmity towards you in her mind. She did not have the slightest bit of affection towards you. While you had great respect and affection towards her as such values were inculcated in your soul since previous lives.
After a few years of marriage, you became a father of a son. The family rejoiced.
You said to your wife Nandini, “I wish to go to the park on Mt. Laxmi and celebrate the birth of our son there! We’ll also invite relatives and friends.
Nandini liked the idea.
Invitations were sent.
Beautiful arrangements were made for the hospitality of near and dear ones! On the main day, you went to Mt. Laxmi with everyone. Coincidentally, the place where the program was being held was the same place where the treasure was hidden. However, you didn’t know anything.
According to the custom of the festival, a flag was installed in the central part.
Hence, you started digging a pit. You saw the treasure. But you did not convey this to anyone else. And here, all the people were occupied in enjoying and having fun. That’s why, no one else’s attention was on you. You buried the flag-post and the ceremony begun.
Throughout the day, everyone was immersed in laughter, happiness, food and dance. In the evening, everyone returned to the city. Everyone went to their respective homes. You too came home with your family. But your mind was on that treasure. You didn’t even talk to your wife, Nandini. Your thought of conveying this to some reliable person. However, it was not necessary to talk about the treasure, because you didn’t have any attraction towards wealth.
There was only curiosity. You thought, ‘What if I talk about it to mother? I’ll ask her what should I do about that wealth.
I will do as she says!’ You talked to your mother, Sridevi about the wealth.
The deceitful Sridevi listened to everything quietly. She did not expression any kind of surprise. But excitement had taken over her heart right after hearing about the treasure.
She said sweetly, “Son, firstly, show me the place of that treasure. After seeing that, we will decide what to do! I will give you advice.”
“Tomorrow, both of us will go to see the place of the treasure.”
And on the next day, with a clean and innocent mind, you took her to the treasure spot.
Seeing the spot, your mother said, “Son, dig a bit and show.”
You had already dug the pit, so you dug the soil and showed her the treasure.
Sridevi was astounded seeing the treasure! As a result of values of previous lives, she felt a sense of attraction towards the treasure and that place.
Still, she controlled her feelings and said to you, “Son, for time being, let’s keep this treasure here. If the king comes to know that Samudradutt has received wealth from the land, then he will take it away. Since, whatever wealth is extracted from the land, only the king has rights over it. If we take this wealth to our house, then we will be criminals in the eyes of the king. The king will not only take away this treasure but also confiscate our wealth.”
You found your mother’s advice appropriate. He was convinced with the idea of taking the treasure home in such a way that the king and his men had no clue about it.
You could not understand Sridevi’s deceitful mind. Sridevi thought, ‘This is no ordinary treasure. There will be lakhs and crores of gold coins in it. I'll grab all this treasure alone! If Samudradutt extracts this treasure, then he will be its owner! His wife, Nandini will also become its owner! In future, his son will be the owner! I won’t get any of it! Well, now Samudradutt is his mother’s devotee. But once the wealth is in his hands, he will become rich. Then if his mind gets spoiled, he might throw me out of the house too. Therefore, I should extract the treasure in any case.
But the biggest question is, how will I keep such a huge treasure hidden from my son? And even if I take and hide it, but when he'll go to get the treasure and won’t find it there, his first suspect will be me. Since he had not discussed about the treasure with anyone else except me. And then he will fight to get the treasure. If his wife comes to know, she will also begin to fight with me. Who knows if they come at night, try to suffocate me and put me to sleep forever in the lap of death? Then bury me in a pit somewhere and become the owner of the treasure.
It would be better if I kill Samudradutt before he thinks of killing me. If the treasure is to be captured, then Samudradutt has to be killed! I should not think of good and bad deeds then!
But how should I kill him? It is not possible to kill him by force. He is powerful and strong. I will have to kill Samudradutt in such a way that even Nandini doesn’t get to know. Some effective solution has to be found!’ Burning in the fire of such thoughts, your mother started looking for ways to kill you. Her restlessness and anxiety increased day by day!
All kinds of pleasures and facilities were around her. Yet she started to suffer in the heat of sorrow. She started getting desperate to attain the pleasure that she did not have i.e. the treasure!
After a few days, you had forgotten about the treasure! You got busy in your business and spiritual practices. Your wife, Nandini was completely devoted to you. That’s why, you used to enjoy worldly pleasures to the fullest. Along with this, on auspicious days like Ashtami, Chaturdashi, you also used to fast. You had built a prayer room in your mansion. In that room, you used to be absorbed in meditation day and night! You would balance all three areas well – Dharm (spirituality), Arth (occupation) and Kaam (enjoyment of sensory pleasures)!
You would end your fast the next morning. Since years, you used to break your fast only from your mother’s hands. This had become your habit! That’s it, your mother found the way out. She planned to add poison to your milk the day you broke your fast!
You had kept a fast on Chaturdashi and sat to eat the next morning. Sridevi kept the poisoned milk ready in a cup. She gave you that milk to drink. Your mind was completely innocent! You drank the milk and Sridevi danced with joy! Her plan was about to succeed! Here, within a short time, the poison started spreading in your body. Your eyes widened. Distressed by pain, you started rolling on the ground. Your wife Nandini arrived there! She felt awful seeing such miserable condition of yours.
She called the servants and neighbours and said, “Look what happened to my husband! While breaking his fast, he suddenly collapsed.”
Hundreds of people gathered in your mansion! Sridevi panicked! She also started acting by beating her head and chest.
She started shouting, “What happened to my son? Somebody save my dear son!”
A virtuous householder of the village said to Nandini, “Poison is spreading in Samudradutt’s body. This poison should be removed at the earliest!”
“Who can remove this poison?” Nandini was crying continuously.
“I’ll go to the garden right away. I met a sage there yesterday. He is a knower of mantras. If he comes here immediately, then he can definitely remove the poison!”
Nandini said, “Kindly go there in our carriage immediately. And convince that sage to come along with you!”
He was going out of the house when he saw the sage coming in a hurry!
The sage said, “I got the news that Samudradutt has been poisoned, so I came here immediately!”
He entered the house. Sridevi was moved by his radiance! She got up from there and went to another room. A smile appeared on his face.
He said to Nandini, “Fill water in a silver vessel and give it to me!”
Nandini instantly filled a silver urn with pure water and gave it to him. Holding the vessel in his hand, he chanted mantras for a few moments with his eyes closed. Then splashed the water on your body, opened your mouth and poured water. Keeping the vessel close by, he placed his hand on your head. After a few minutes, you opened your eyes. You got up and started vomiting rigorously. All the poison that had entered your body, came out. You were gasping! You fell asleep again.
The sage said, “Samudradutt is now well. The poison has been removed from the body. He is fine now!”
Nandini fell at the feet of the sage.
With tears in her eyes, she said, “With your infinite grace, my fortune has remained intact! You have done me a huge favour! Can you tell me who poisoned my husband?”
“The poisoner has left your house. Now she won’t return. Influenced by greed, she had given poison. Well, Samudradutt’s good fortune might have brought me to this city. You are indeed a great man’s wife!”
The saint left from there. After two hours, you woke up. Nandini fed you affectionately.
You asked, “Where is my mother?”
Nandini said, “She has left from here. Now she will not return! The great man who removed your poison and saved you, has said this!”
You got immersed in deep thoughts.
Nandini said, “That sage also said that your mother, overruled by greed, had given you poison!”
‘Oh, so that treasure was wandering in my mother’s mind? She wanted to grab that wealth alone? How strange this world is! This life is infested with such weird troubles! Ill-feelings make beings so sinful and paralyzed! Today, greed made my mother lose her senses. Tomorrow, they may overrule me too. I no longer want to live here! Let me accept monkhood and move ahead the path of salvation!’
You spoke to Nandini. She gave you permission.
You adopted monkhood from Acharya Devsharma and followed it diligently. Your had a peaceful death and reincarnated in heaven.
***
Your mother, Sridevi had reached Mt. Laxmi. She herself built an abode at the spot of the treasure and started living there.
One day, her life came to an end.
She died and went to hell.
