Abhaykumara Ane Rohineya Chor

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Abhaykumara ane Rohineya Chor" in English:

This story, set during the time of Lord Mahavir, focuses on the renowned chief minister Abhaykumar and a cunning thief named Rohineya.

The Rise of Rohineya the Thief:

Rohineya was the son of Lohkhur, a highly skilled burglar who lived in a cave on Vaibharagiri mountain near Rajagriha. Lohkhur was known for his expertise, leaving no trace after his thefts. Rohineya inherited his father's profession and quickly surpassed him in skill and cleverness, becoming difficult to identify even in disguise and capable of evading pursuit. He targeted wealthy individuals, hiding his ill-gotten gains in secret locations. Interestingly, Rohineya used his stolen wealth to help the poor, earning their gratitude and their silence, thus hindering the state's efforts to catch him.

Lohkhur's Final Advice and Rohineya's Expansion:

As Lohkhur's life neared its end, he advised his son never to listen to Lord Mahavir's teachings, as they contradicted their thieving profession. Rohineya promised to obey. After his father's death, Rohineya's thieving activities intensified, causing fear among the prosperous citizens of Rajagriha. Many sought protection from King Shrenik, but even the best police officers were unable to stop Rohineya. Consequently, the king tasked his intelligent chief minister, Abhaykumar, with capturing the elusive thief.

An Accidental Encounter with Lord Mahavir's Teachings:

One day, while secretly entering Rajagriha, Rohineya passed by Lord Mahavir's sermon (samavasaran). Remembering his father's warning, he covered his ears with his hands. However, his foot stepped on a sharp thorn, forcing him to remove his hands to extract it. During this brief moment, he overheard Lord Mahavir's teachings: that human life is the best in all existences and the only path to liberation. He heard that liberation is attainable regardless of caste, religion, or color, and that good deeds lead to heaven, a realm of all pleasures. The teachings also described the heavenly beings whose feet don't touch the earth, whose shadows don't fall, whose eyes don't blink, and whose garlands never wither. It was explained that even heavenly beings desire a human life for the ultimate goal of liberation. As soon as he extracted the thorn, Rohineya covered his ears again and continued towards the city.

Abhaykumar's Stratagem and Rohineya's Capture:

Abhaykumar had secretly deployed soldiers at all city gates and was personally overseeing the operation. Despite Rohineya's disguise as a farmer, the trained soldiers recognized him and alerted Abhaykumar. Abhaykumar, observing from hiding, identified Rohineya even in his disguise and ordered his men to surround him. Rohineya, sensing the danger, tried to escape over the fort wall, but was apprehended by the waiting soldiers and thrown into prison.

The Illusion of Heaven:

The next day, Rohineya was brought before the king. It was difficult to definitively identify him in his disguise. Although Abhaykumar was certain, he lacked concrete proof for conviction. When asked for his identity, Rohineya claimed to be Durgachandra, a farmer from Shaligram village, visiting Rajagriha. He had even instructed the villagers to corroborate his story. An investigation to Shaligram confirmed his fabricated identity.

To extract a confession, Abhaykumar devised a clever plan. Knowing Rohineya's fondness for alcohol, he was heavily intoxicated. Once incapacitated, he was cleaned, dressed in fine, decorated clothes, and adorned with jewelry. When he regained consciousness, he believed he was in heaven. The surroundings were spectacularly beautiful, with walls, ceilings, and floors appearing to be made of crystal. Beautiful maidservants fanned him with fragrant air, soft music played, and dancers performed. He was told he was the new king of heaven and would enjoy all its pleasures.

Rohineya, questioning the reality of this situation for a thief, initially thought his good deeds of helping the poor were being rewarded. However, he then suspected it might be Abhaykumar's ploy. He couldn't discern the truth.

The Unveiling of the Illusion:

Soon, a man dressed in fine clothes, carrying a book and a golden staff, approached him. He asked the maidservants if their new lord had awakened and announced a divine celebration. He then approached Rohineya, intending to verify his preparations and gather information for the heavenly officials. The man opened his book and asked Rohineya to recount his past good deeds to enjoy heavenly peace.

Rohineya, observing his surroundings, recalled Lord Mahavir's description of heavenly beings from the sermon he'd accidentally heard. He noticed that these "heavenly" beings walked on the ground, cast shadows, and blinked their eyes like ordinary people. He immediately understood that this was not heaven but an illusion created by Abhaykumar to gather evidence of his thefts.

Confession and Renunciation:

Rohineya then responded by claiming to have donated money for good causes, built temples, visited holy pilgrimage sites, and helped those in need. When asked about any wrongdoings, he stated he had carefully avoided them, thus explaining his supposed birth in heaven. Abhaykumar's plan failed, and Rohineya was released, considered an innocent farmer.

Despite his release, Rohineya was deeply affected by the experience. He realized that the few words of Lord Mahavir he had accidentally heard had saved him and questioned his father's advice. He recognized Lord Mahavir's greatness and the power of his teachings. He felt he had wasted years by not listening to Mahavir's full discourse. After much contemplation, he decided to dedicate his life to Lord Mahavir and joined his assembly, expressing his desire to become a monk. Lord Mahavir advised him to reveal his true identity to the king and confess his past sins before renouncing the world.

Seeking Forgiveness and Attaining Liberation:

Rohineya presented himself to the king, revealed his true identity, and requested punishment for his crimes. He also implored Abhaykumar to accept all the wealth he had acquired through theft. Witnessing Rohineya's confession and his willingness to return everything, the king forgave him and granted permission for him to become a monk. Filled with remorse for his past actions, Rohineya began rigorous penance to expiate his karma. In his old age, with Lord Mahavir's permission, he took the vow of Sallekhana (fasting unto death while meditating) and attained heaven after his demise.

Moral of the Story:

The story highlights the principles of honesty and non-stealing. It emphasizes that using ill-gotten gains for charity does not negate the wrong of the theft; what is wrong remains wrong. True atonement requires confession and a change in conduct. The story also underscores the significance of the human form for liberation, stating that even divine beings aspire to be born as humans to achieve it. It urges individuals to utilize their fortunate human existence to reduce negative karma. Furthermore, it demonstrates the transformative power of Lord Mahavir's teachings, suggesting that even a few words can change a life, making it imperative to study and understand his complete teachings through scriptures (Agamas) to improve one's own life, as Rohineya did.