King Pradeshi And Keshikumar Diwakar Chitrakatha 054

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "King Pradeshi and Keshikumar Diwakar Chitrakatha 054":

This comic book, published by Mahavir Seva Trust, presents the story of King Pradeshi and Keshikumar Shraman, highlighting the transformative power of righteous company. The introduction emphasizes that while mythical items like the philosopher's stone and ambrosia are unseen, the effect of good company is a demonstrable truth that can purify a person's attitude and change a sinner into a sage, a cruel person into one of compassion, and a devil into a prophet of forgiveness.

The narrative begins with Suryaabh, a god, appearing before Bhagavan Mahavir in his divine assembly. Suryaabh is filled with devotion and pays homage to Mahavir. He then requests permission to display his divine opulence, which he attributes to his religious practices in a past life. Bhagavan Mahavir grants his request, and Suryaabh's celestial attendants perform mesmerizing displays. After Suryaabh returns to his heavenly abode, Bhagavan Mahavir's disciple, Gautam Swami, inquires about Suryaabh's past life. Mahavir reveals that Suryaabh was once King Pradeshi, a ruler known for his cruelty, violence, and irreligious nature.

The story then shifts to King Pradeshi's past life in the city of Shvetambika. Pradeshi was a harsh ruler who imposed severe punishments for minor offenses. His prime minister, Chitt, was pious, intelligent, and just. The text illustrates Pradeshi's cruelty through an anecdote where a cowherd, fearing the king, warns a traveling trader about Pradeshi's oppressive nature.

King Pradeshi, wanting to improve his kingdom's prosperity, sends Minister Chitt to the neighboring kingdom of Shravasti to learn from their successful king, Jitashatru. In Shravasti, Minister Chitt witnesses a large number of citizens heading to hear the discourse of Keshikumar Shraman, a disciple of Bhagavan Parshva Naath. Impressed by the sage's wisdom and austerity, Chitt also attends the sermon.

Keshikumar Shraman preaches about renunciation, service to others, and charity. After the discourse, Minister Chitt expresses his desire to accept Shravak Dharma (lay follower principles) and invites Keshikumar to visit Shvetambika, believing that the sage's noble company might reform King Pradeshi. Keshikumar agrees, conveying a message of friendship to Pradeshi.

Minister Chitt, returning to Shvetambika, devises a plan to take King Pradeshi to meet Keshikumar. He orchestrates a chariot ride with specially trained horses. During the ride, Pradeshi complains of exhaustion and hunger. Chitt suggests resting at their "Mrigavan" (deer park), which happens to be where Keshikumar is giving a discourse.

King Pradeshi interrupts the discourse, calling Keshikumar an "idiot." Keshikumar, using his Manah-paryavajnaana (extra-sensory perception of thoughts), reveals that he knew Pradeshi's thoughts. This astonishes Pradeshi, who then engages in a debate with the sage.

The core of their debate revolves around the nature of the soul and body. Pradeshi, having conducted an experiment where he sealed a thief in an airtight box and found him dead, concludes that the soul escapes upon the body's death, proving the body and soul are one. Keshikumar counters with analogies, explaining that just as sound can emanate from a sealed room without being seen, a subtle, formless soul can exit a body. He likens the soul to a flame within a lamp, separate yet residing within the body. He also uses the example of woodcutters trying to find fire by breaking wood, only for the old man to reveal that fire is produced by rubbing pieces together, implying that the soul's presence requires the right conditions (austerities, yoga, meditation) to be perceived.

Pradeshi questions how the soul of an ant and an elephant can be equal if their strength differs, and how air, which cannot be held in the palm, can be compared to the soul. Keshikumar explains that the soul's sentience is the same in all beings, but its area of influence is confined by the body it inhabits, like the light of a lamp being limited by its enclosure.

Finally, Pradeshi struggles with his ancestral traditions, which conflate the body and soul and promote enjoyment. Keshikumar narrates the story of an iron trader who stubbornly refused to abandon iron for copper, then silver, then gold, and finally diamonds, ultimately ending up as a poor hawker while his companions became rich. This parable illustrates that clinging to false beliefs and traditions, even when presented with truth and better options, leads to regret.

Convinced by Keshikumar's teachings and the story of the iron trader, King Pradeshi accepts the philosophy that the soul and body are separate and that one must bear the consequences of their actions. He embraces Jain principles, vowing to abandon violence, be kind, compassionate, and loving.

Upon returning to his kingdom, Pradeshi releases all prisoners and reorganizes the state's finances to include funds for public welfare and the destitute. He dedicates himself to austerities and meditation.

Meanwhile, his queen, Suryakanta, resents his newfound piety and isolation. Plotting to make her son king, she conspires to poison Pradeshi. She mixes poison in his food. King Pradeshi, realizing he's been poisoned, remains remarkably calm. He attributes his suffering to his own past karma and views the queen as merely an instrument. He endures the excruciating pain with equanimity, recalling Keshikumar's teaching: "Body is mortal, soul is immortal, agitation is poison, equanimity is ambrosia." He eventually dies from the poison.

As a result of his transformation and virtuous death, King Pradeshi is reborn as Suryaabh god in the first heaven, endowed with great opulence. Bhagavan Mahavir concludes by telling Gautam Swami that Suryaabh's lifespan is considerable, and after his heavenly existence, he will be reborn in Mahavideh, become a highly spiritual person named Dridhapratijna, attain omniscience, and finally achieve liberation.

The book ends with "The Lesson," reiterating the importance of faith in oneself and the immortal soul, renouncing physical pleasures for spiritual gain, and the necessity of a guru for enlightenment. It emphasizes forgiveness, compassion, and equanimity as hallmarks of true religion, citing Pradeshi's remarkable change and his forgiveness of the queen as prime examples. The text also includes some humorous anecdotes and a philosophical point about the sameness of the spiritual flame (soul) in all beings, regardless of their outward form or actions.