Subhum Chakravarti Charitra Katha - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Subhum Chakravarti Charitra Katha" (the first part of the provided text) and the subsequent stories, based on the pages you've shared:

Book Title: Subhum Chakravarti Charitra Katha (and other stories) Author(s): Unknown Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

This collection of Jain texts narrates moralistic tales and stories, highlighting the principles of Jainism, particularly the consequences of actions (karma) and the importance of virtues like non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness, and renunciation.

Part 1: Subhum Chakravarti Charitra Katha (Story of Emperor Subhum)

The narrative begins by describing various negative traits and their dire consequences, such as causing harm to living beings, speaking falsehoods, greed, pride, cruelty, backbiting, associating with the wicked, and criticizing ascetics. It states that those who possess these qualities, filled with suffering and sorrow, will eventually go to hell.

The story then introduces Emperor Subhum, who is described as having gone to the seventh hell due to his grave sins.

The text then shifts to a celestial story involving two friends, Vaishvanara (a deity devoted to Jainism) and Dhanvantari (a deity devoted to Shaivism and ascetics). They engage in a debate, each praising their own religion as superior. To test the truth of their claims, they descend to the human world.

The Test of Vaishvanara (Jain Devotee):

First Test: Vaishvanara, disguised as a Jain monk, is presented with various tempting dishes and drinks. Despite his hunger, he refuses them, knowing they are meant to test his adherence to his vows.
Second Test: He is shown two paths: one safe and clear, and another full of thorns. He chooses the thorny path, demonstrating his commitment to avoiding harm to even the smallest creatures (a principle of ahimsa). He endures significant pain from the thorns.
Third Test: Beautiful celestial nymphs are created to tempt him with dance, music, and seductive offers of worldly pleasures. He remains steadfast in his spiritual path.
Fourth Test: They appear as fortune-tellers, advising him that he has a long life and should enjoy youth rather than practice severe penance. He asserts that youth is the best time for spiritual practice and that his current discipline will lead to a stronger body for future austerities.

When the monk remains unwavering through all four tests, the two deities acknowledge the greatness of the Jain faith.

The Test of Dhanvantari (Shaivite Devotee):

Dhanvantari tests the aged ascetic Jamadagni. The deities transform into a pair of sparrows.
One sparrow (the "husband") expresses a desire to go to Mount Himavat. The other (the "wife") warns against it, saying that if he doesn't return, she'll commit suicide.
Jamadagni, upon hearing this, becomes enraged at the sparrows' conversation. He is told by the sparrow that the saying "one without a son has no destination" implies he should have children before renouncing the world.
Influenced by this, Jamadagni abandons his penance and returns home to have many children. He requests a daughter from King Jitashatru of Koshikanagar.
When he sees the King's daughters, he curses them all to become hunchbacked due to his disturbed state.
He is eventually given a princess, Renuka, who he marries. Through his penance, he obtains a special mantra. He uses this mantra to create a divine garment for Renuka, which will grant her a Kshatriya son and a Brahmin son.
Renuka eats one potion, resulting in the birth of the great warrior Rama. She gives the other potion to her sister, Anangasena, who gives birth to Kritavirya.
Later, a Vidyadhara (celestial being) afflicted with dysentery visits Jamadagni's hermitage. Rama serves him, and in return, the Vidyadhara bestows the divine weapon "Parashu" upon Rama.

Consequences of Actions and Family Conflict:

Renuka visits her sister Anangasena and is seduced by King Anantavirya. She becomes pregnant.
When Renuka returns home, Rama becomes enraged and kills Anantavirya.
In retaliation, Anantavirya's son, Kirtavirya, attacks Jamadagni's hermitage and kills him.
Parashurama (Rama's other name) kills Kirtavirya and takes over the kingdom of Hastinapur.
Kirtavirya's pregnant wife flees to a hermitage, where she gives birth to a son named Subhum in an underground chamber.
Parashurama, in his rage, destroys the Kshatriya lineage (making the earth "Kshatriya-less" seven times).

Subhum's Destiny:

Parashurama consults an astrologer and learns that his death will be at the hands of someone whose tooth resembles a lion's. He establishes a place for those with such teeth.
Meanwhile, a Vidyadhara asks an astrologer about his daughter's husband. The astrologer predicts she will marry Subhum, a Chakravarthi (universal emperor). The Vidyadhara arranges the marriage of his daughter with Subhum.
Subhum, now grown, asks his mother about the world. She explains their hiding due to fear of Parashurama and the Kshatriya destruction.
Hearing this, Subhum, along with his father-in-law Meghnad, goes to Hastinapur.
In Hastinapur, his sight causes the lion-toothed symbols (placed by Parashurama) to ignite, and the surrounding entities turn to ash.
Parashurama realizes Subhum is his prophesied slayer. After a battle where Meghnad defeats Parashurama's followers, Parashurama himself arrives.
Upon seeing Subhum, Parashurama loses his power. Subhum throws a discus at Parashurama, which becomes a chakra, striking and defeating Parashurama.
Subhum, having defeated Parashurama, conquers the six continents with his chakra and other divine artifacts.
Driven by greed, Subhum attempts to conquer the Salt Sea. However, the divine beings who reside on the tortoise supporting the sea abandon their posts, causing Subhum and his army to fall into the sea and go to the seventh hell.

This concludes the story of Subhum Chakravarti, emphasizing how even great power and conquest can lead to downfall if driven by greed and attachment.

Part 2: Damankak Katha (Story of Damanka)

This story emphasizes the importance of compassion, giving refuge, and the consequences of actions.

It begins with a verse about the importance of giving life and the merit of offering refuge.
Damanka was born in Rajagriha to a jeweler named Manikara and his wife Yashamati. His parents died when he was eight, leaving him in poverty.
An ascetic prophesied that Damanka would become the master of the wealthy house he was begging from. The greedy jeweler, Sagarapota, overheard this.
To prevent the prophecy from coming true, Sagarapota tried to kill Damanka. Instead, he bribed a Chandala (outcaste) named Pingala to kill Damanka, but Pingala, moved by compassion, only cut off Damanka's little finger and let him go.
Damanka, injured and frightened, fled and was adopted by a childless cowherd named Nanda.
Sagarapota, realizing the prophecy was coming true (as evidenced by the cut finger), became distressed.
Later, Sagarapota learned that Damanka had survived and was living as Nanda's son. He sent a letter to his son, instructing him to poison the person who delivered the letter.
Damanka, unaware of the poison, delivered the letter to Sagarapota's son, who, following his father's instructions, arranged Damanka's marriage to his sister, Vishaa.
When Sagarapota learned of the marriage, he was filled with remorse and regret. He went to kill Damanka but was told by Pingala that he had already spared him out of compassion.
Sagarapota planned to kill Damanka at his family deity's temple. He told his son, Samudradatta, to poison Damanka. However, Vishaa, learning of this, altered the inscription to poison Sagarapota's son instead. Thus, Samudradatta was poisoned, and Damanka married Vishaa.
Sagarapota died of grief upon learning of his son's death. Damanka inherited Sagarapota's wealth.
Damanka, despite his wealth, practiced Dharma. He heard a sermon from a monk who revealed his past life.
In a previous life, Damanka was Sunanda, a merchant. During a severe famine, his wife urged him to catch fish for sustenance. Sunanda refused to harm living beings.
One day, while catching fish, a fish's fin was torn. Sunanda was deeply saddened and resolved never to commit violence. This act of compassion resulted in his little finger being cut off in his current life.
Upon hearing this, Damanka renounced his worldly possessions, observed a fast, and attained liberation.

Part 3: Vankachoola Charitra (Story of Vankachoola)

This story emphasizes the importance of adhering to vows and the consequences of deviating from them.

Vankachoola was married to a princess. However, due to his addiction to theft and other vices, he was banished from the city. His wife and sister-in-law accompanied him.
They were found by hunters, who, recognizing him as a banished prince, appointed him as their chief. Vankachoola then indulged in looting.
During the rainy season, he encountered a group of Jain monks and offered them shelter. However, he stipulated that they should not preach Dharma within his territory, as his livelihood depended on exploiting those who practiced virtues like non-violence and honesty. The monks agreed and stayed for four months, sustained by donations.
When the monks were leaving, Vankachoola joined them. He was given four rules by the monks:
1. Do not eat anything whose name is unknown.
2. Do not eat anything offered with malice.
3. Do not consume anything belonging to a king.
4. Do not eat food obtained through deception.
Later, in summer, Vankachoola and his followers were searching for food. They found ripe fruits on a tree. When asked about the fruits, the villagers said their names were unknown. Vankachoola, remembering his vow, refused to eat them, even though he was starving. His followers urged him to break his vow, but he remained steadfast.
The next morning, they found the villagers dead. Vankachoola realized that his adherence to the vow had saved him, while his followers, who ate the unknown fruits, had died.
Returning to his village, Vankachoola saw his wife with another man. Believing her to be unfaithful, he decided to kill them. However, he remembered his vow not to harm anyone without proper cause.
His sister intervened, explaining that she had disguised herself to protect the village from spies. Vankachoola, realizing his mistake and the importance of his monastic vows, became more devoted.
He went to Ujjain for theft but was disgusted by the greed of a wealthy merchant and decided not to steal from him. He also resolved not to engage with prostitutes.
He then approached the king's palace, intending to steal. He encountered the queen, who propositioned him, offering him wealth and her favor. Vankachoola, remembering his vows, refused her advances, explaining that she was like a mother to him. The queen, enraged, tried to scratch him, but he escaped.
The king, alerted by the commotion, caught Vankachoola. However, Vankachoola narrated his entire story, impressing the king with his virtue. The king, impressed, offered him his queen, but Vankachoola refused. The king, recognizing his steadfastness, adopted him as his son.
Vankachoola continued to uphold his vows and became devoted to Jain Dharma. He was sent to conquer Kamarupa. After his victory, he fell ill with a wound that wouldn't heal. The king offered him crow's meat as medicine, but Vankachoola refused, stating he had renounced meat.
The king then summoned his friend, Jindas, a merchant from Ujjain. Jindas learned of Vankachoola's condition and vows. He met two celestial nymphs who lamented that Vankachoola's refusal of their offered fruits (which were actually poison) would lead to his doom.
Jindas, realizing Vankachoola's steadfastness, arranged for proper Jain rituals and care for him. Vankachoola, after renouncing his worldly attachments and performing his spiritual duties, attained salvation in the twelfth heaven.

Part 4: Narmadasundari Katha (Story of Narmadasundari)

This story highlights the consequences of attachment, pride, and disrespect towards ascetics, as well as the power of true devotion.

King Sampati of Vardhamanpur had a son, Maheshwar, and a daughter, Narmadasundari. Narmadasundari was very beautiful and was sought after by many suitors.
A merchant named Rudradatta, who pretended to be a Jain, fell in love with her beauty. He converted to Jainism to marry her. However, after the marriage, he abandoned Jainism.
Narmadasundari also became lax in her religious practices. She gave birth to a son, Maheshwar.
Her brother, Sahadeva, married Sundari. Sundari developed a desire to bathe in the Narmada River. They established a city called Narmadapuri and built a Jain temple. Narmadasundari was born to them.
Narmadasundari was exceptionally beautiful. Her mother, Rishidatta, desired her to marry her son Maheshwar. However, Rishidatta knew her brother, Sahadeva, would not agree due to her own laxity in Jainism.
Maheshwar, upon learning this, went to Sahadeva and, through his virtues and sincerity, convinced him to agree to the marriage. Maheshwar, now devoted to Jainism, married Narmadasundari.
Narmadasundari, while looking out of her palace window, spat out betel juice, which fell on a Jain monk. The monk cursed her, saying her husband would be separated from her due to this disrespect.
Narmadasundari realized her mistake and apologized to the monk, who told her not to worry as the words were spoken by his mouth, not his heart.
Later, Maheshwar went on a business trip. Narmadasundari insisted on accompanying him. On the ship, a man sang a song, and Narmadasundari accurately described his appearance, leading Maheshwar to suspect her fidelity.
They landed on a demon island. Maheshwar abandoned Narmadasundari, claiming she was eaten by demons. He then sailed to Yavandwipa.
Narmadasundari, finding herself alone, contemplated suicide but remembered Jain teachings. She lamented her past actions that led to this state. She then worshipped a Jain idol and lived by eating fruits.
Her uncle, Viradasa, found her and brought her back to his city. There, she was forced to live in a house with a courtesan.
Meanwhile, Maheshwar returned home, learned that Narmadasundari had been abandoned by him, and searched for her. He eventually found her, but she was now in the courtesan's house.
He tried to inquire about her, but she remained silent. Distraught, he went to Bhrugukachha and met Jindas, a virtuous merchant. He told Jindas his story.
Jindas, with the intention of helping, equipped ships and went to the demon island. He found Narmadasundari, who was still maintaining her vows. He brought her back.
When the king heard of Narmadasundari's antics, he sent guards to bring her to him. Narmadasundari, still feigning madness, acted erratically, throwing dust and dirt. The king, realizing she was truly distressed, abandoned her.
Jindas, seeing her plight, reassured her and took her to Bhrugukachha. She explained her situation to Jindas.
Jindas devised a plan: Narmadasundari, pretending to be mad, broke pots with stones on the street. The king, angered by the chaos, declared that anyone who could remove her from the city would be rewarded.
Jindas offered to take her to another land. The king agreed. Jindas then bound Narmadasundari and put her on a ship, sailing away.
On the ship, Narmadasundari cleansed herself and changed into clothes provided by Jindas. They reached Bhrugukachha, and she returned to her family.
Upon hearing her story, the family was overjoyed. A knowledgeable monk revealed that in her past life, Narmadasundari was a river goddess who disrespected a Jain monk, leading to her current suffering.
Remembering her past, Narmadasundari embraced Jainism wholeheartedly. She explained her condition to Maheshwar, who, realizing his mistake, repented.
Maheshwar and Rishidatta renounced the world and attained salvation. Narmadasundari also eventually attained liberation.

This collection of stories aims to educate and inspire readers by illustrating the Jain principles through the lives and karmic journeys of various characters.