Mahavira Ki Bodh Kathaye Diwakar Chitrakatha 005

This document is a collection of moral and religious stories compiled from Jain scriptures, presented in a comic book format titled "Mahavira ki Bodh Kathaye Diwakar Chitrakatha 005". The book is authored by Pushkar Muni and Shreechand Surana, and published by Diwakar Prakashan. The primary goal is to impart good values, purify thoughts, increase knowledge, and provide entertainment.

The introduction highlights Lord Mahavira as a revolutionary leader who promoted equality in religious practice for all castes and genders, and who delivered his teachings in the common language (Prakrit-Ardhamagadhi) for wider accessibility. The book specifically compiles stories from the Uttaradhyayana Sutra and the Snataka Sutra, two important Jain texts.

The book contains five individual stories, each conveying a moral lesson:

1. Kaam ka Bantwara (Division of Work): This story illustrates the importance of assigning responsibilities based on individual capabilities. A wealthy merchant, Dhanna, wants to divide household responsibilities among his four daughters-in-law before his death. To test their abilities, he gives each of them five grains of paddy and asks them to return them later.

• The eldest daughter-in-law, Ujjika, carelessly throws the grains away, thinking her father-in-law has plenty.
• The second daughter-in-law, Bhogvati, eats the grains, believing them to be a divine offering.
• The third daughter-in-law, Rakshika, stores the grains carefully in a box, valuing them but not utilizing their potential.
• The youngest and most intelligent daughter-in-law, Rohini, plants the grains and cultivates them. After four years, the five grains have multiplied into a large harvest, requiring many carts to transport.

Dhanna recognizes Rohini's foresight and ability to multiply resources and assigns her the primary responsibility for managing the household. Rakshika is put in charge of safeguarding assets, Bhogvati manages the kitchen and food, and Ujjika is tasked with cleanliness, symbolizing their respective approaches to the five grains. The story emphasizes that true wealth creation comes from diligent effort and intelligent utilization of resources.

2. Pralobhan ka Mayajaal (The Web of Temptation): This story warns against greed and succumbing to temptations. Two brave and intelligent brothers, Jinpal and Jinarakshit, who have amassed wealth through eleven sea voyages, embark on a twelfth. Despite their parents' warnings against further risks, their desire for more wealth drives them. Their ship is destroyed in a storm, and they are washed ashore on Ratnadweep, ruled by the wicked Ratnadevi.

Ratnadevi, using her divine knowledge, lures them to her palace with promises of pleasure and luxury. She forces them to accept her as their wife under threat of death. While Ratnadevi is away, she instructs them to stay within designated areas, warning them against a forest in the south. Driven by curiosity, the brothers venture into the southern forest, where they encounter a gruesome scene: a man on a stake, suffering immense pain. The man reveals that he is a victim of Ratnadevi's cruelty.

They learn from a yaksha that the only way to escape is to be on his back at the appointed time on the night of the new moon. The yaksha warns them not to look back, as Ratnadevi will try to lure them away. Jinpal remains steadfast, but Jinarakshit, swayed by Ratnadevi's pleas, looks back and is thrown off the yaksha's back, only to be killed by Ratnadevi. Jinpal reaches home safely. The story concludes by emphasizing that those who overcome greed and temptations achieve success, while those who fall prey to them face destruction.

3. Parivartan (Change/Transformation): This story highlights the transient nature of things and the importance of maintaining equanimity. King Jitashtru is impressed by the delicious food at a feast, while his minister, Subuddhi, remains indifferent. Later, the king is disgusted by a foul-smelling drain filled with stagnant water and dead animals. Subuddhi calmly explains that all things are subject to change and that attachment or aversion based on temporary states is futile.

The king, initially skeptical, is later presented with clean, fragrant water from the same drain, purified by Subuddhi. This demonstration reinforces Subuddhi's teaching: that the essence of things can change, and one should not form strong attachments or aversions. The story conveys the Jain principle of non-attachment and understanding the impermanence of worldly phenomena.

4. Thode ke Liye Sab Kuch Kho Diya (Lost Everything for a Little): This story illustrates the folly of prioritizing small gains over significant assets due to greed. A merchant returning with a thousand gold coins carelessly loses one coin in a village. Despite having a thousand coins, he insists on returning to find the lost one. On his way back, he decides to bury his thousand coins in the forest for safekeeping and then retrieves the single coin. However, someone witnesses him burying the coins, steals them, and leaves a mark on the tree. When the merchant returns and finds the coins gone, he loses everything. The story serves as a cautionary tale against prioritizing minor immediate gains over substantial long-term security.

5. Jama Poonji (Capital): This story emphasizes the value of diligent work and prudent investment over idleness and immediate gratification. A merchant, Meghadatta, gives each of his three sons one thousand gold coins to start businesses.

• The eldest, Devadatta, wastes his capital on pleasures and becomes destitute.
• The second, Shivadatta, invests in a village, lives comfortably, and returns only his initial capital by earning interest.
• The youngest, Jindaata, wisely invests his capital in buying grain at a low price and selling it at a higher price, multiplying his wealth significantly.

Upon their return, Jindaata presents his father with a substantial profit, while Devadatta returns with nothing, and Shivadatta returns only his initial investment. The story highlights the rewards of hard work, wise investment, and understanding the true purpose of capital.

The final pages of the book include a section on "Mahavir ke Amar Shikshayein" (Immortal Teachings of Lord Mahavira), which are quotes and key events from Mahavira's life, such as his birth, renunciation, enlightenment, and nirvana, emphasizing principles like carefulness, humility, forgiveness, and contentment. The publication also promotes an annual membership to Diwakar Prakashan for receiving their illustrated publications, highlighting various other Jain books they offer. The concluding pages also feature messages promoting vegetarianism and animal welfare, attributed to a "Shakahar Kranti ke Sutradhar" (Originator of Vegetarian Revolution) and a message from the President of India appreciating Diwakar Prakashan's publications.