Mahavir Aur Malavpati Dasharnabhadra

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text:

The text, titled "Mahavir aur Malavpati Dasharnabhadra" (Mahavir and the King of Malava, Dasharnabhadra) by Munishri Bhaskar, recounts an event involving Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar, and Dasharnabhadra, the king of Malava.

Lord Mahavir, while traversing the region of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, arrived in the prosperous land of Malava, known for its abundant resources. He then proceeded to the beautiful garden in Despur (Mandsaur). The royal gardener promptly informed King Dasharnabhadra about Lord Mahavir's arrival. The king, who ardently revered Mahavir, was overjoyed upon hearing this news. He immediately descended from his throne, offered his respects to Mahavir from afar, and rewarded the messenger generously.

The garden where Lord Mahavir was staying was transformed into a Samavsarana, a divine assembly place, with celestial beings and a large gathering of people from all walks of life, including animals and birds, eager to listen to Mahavir's discourse. Lord Mahavir began his sermon, which was profound and capable of resolving everyone's doubts simultaneously.

King Dasharnabhadra, eager to have darshan (auspicious sight) of Lord Mahavir and partake in the divine sermon, initially considered going in his simple attire. However, he soon changed his mind, thinking that as a king, his attire and presentation should reflect his status and wealth. He believed that showcasing his vast wealth and retinue would impress neighboring rulers and establish his reputation. Driven by this thought and a growing sense of pride, he ordered his army to prepare a grand procession. Thousands of elaborately adorned elephants, horses, and chariots, accompanied by his entire family and a vast army, set out towards the Samavsarana. The populace was amazed by the king's immense wealth and showered him with blessings.

Meanwhile, Shakrendra (King of the Gods), observing the procession with his divine knowledge, saw not only Dasharnabhadra's devotion but also his growing pride and attachment to his material possessions. Disappointed by the king's materialistic mindset, Shakrendra decided to intervene. He manifested one hundred and eight pairs of divine beings, who, with their supernatural powers, created magnificent elephants. Each of these divine elephants was adorned with intricately carved pools filled with lotuses, and on each lotus petal, beautiful celestial maidens danced. These divine elephants descended from the sky, arriving before Dasharnabhadra's procession.

Witnessing this unparalleled display of divine splendor, Dasharnabhadra was stunned and deeply humbled. He realized that his own grand procession and accumulated wealth were insignificant compared to the divine display. His pride evaporated like snow in the sun, and he felt immense shame for his egoistic behavior. He then contemplated the transient nature of life and wealth, a realization that led him to desire renunciation. He decided to leave his kingdom and seek refuge at Lord Mahavir's feet.

Upon reaching the Samavsarana, King Dasharnabhadra bowed to Lord Mahavir and expressed his desire to become his disciple. He confessed that he had been a slave to his passions for a long time but now understood the impermanence of worldly things. He requested Mahavir to initiate him into asceticism and grant him the five great vows. The public and Shakrendra were amazed by Dasharnabhadra's sudden detachment and resolve to become an ascetic.

Lord Mahavir accepted Dasharnabhadra's request and initiated him into monastic life. The people and Shakrendra bowed to the newly ordained monk. Shakrendra apologized for his previous intervention and expressed that the king's spiritual wealth and renunciation were far superior to his own material possessions. He acknowledged that Dasharnabhadra's true pride was in his spiritual pursuit, which would remain eternal. Shakrendra then departed, praising the king's profound renunciation.

The text concludes with a verse from the Uttaradhyayana Sutra (18.44), which states: "Having abandoned the kingdom of Dasharna, the ascetic moves on. Dasharnabhadra renounced, provoked by Indra." This verse summarizes Dasharnabhadra's act of leaving his kingdom to become an ascetic under the influence of divine prompting.