Surchandra Charitram

This Jain text, "Surachandra Charitram" (The Life Story of Surachandra), authored by Vardhamansuri and published by Pandit Hiralal Hansraj in 1935 (Vir Samvat 2461), narrates a moral tale illustrating the principles of Jainism, particularly the virtue of Ahimsa (non-violence).

The story begins by introducing the twelve vows (vratas) of a householder (shravaka), emphasizing Ahimsa as the foremost vow. Ahimsa is described as the act of not harming innocent living beings and not causing them pain. This virtue is likened to a swan on the lotus of good deeds and a ladder leading to ultimate liberation (moksha). The text contrasts the suffering caused by violence with the supreme happiness derived from non-violence, using the example of Surachandra and Chandrachandra.

The narrative then introduces a prosperous city named Jaipur, ruled by King Shatrunjaya, renowned for his vast ocean of fame. The king had two sons, Surachandra and Chandrachandra. The elder, Surachandra, was appointed as the crown prince due to the king's mistaken belief in his superior qualities. Chandrachandra, the younger son, received no such favor, leading him to contemplate his unfair treatment. Feeling disgraced and unwilling to stay, Chandrachandra secretly left his home one night.

He eventually reached a city called Ratnapatan. Near its park, a weary Chandrachandra rested. He heard a melodious sound and entered the park, where he encountered a sage named Sudarshana. Listening to the sage's discourse on the principles of Jainism, Chandrachandra was deeply moved by the emphasis on non-violence. He resolved to never harm any living being, even in self-defense or under duress.

After this spiritual awakening, Chandrachandra began serving King Jayasena in Ratnapatan. His virtues of purity, truthfulness, propriety, intelligence, and generosity made him beloved by the king. One day, King Jayasena, recognizing Chandrachandra's exceptional qualities and prowess, confided in him about a wicked demon named Kumbha who was causing great trouble. The king urged Chandrachandra to confront and defeat Kumbha, who was described as an immense threat, harming women, cows, and even ascetics, and finding refuge in impenetrable forts.

Chandrachandra, now deeply devoted to the path of righteousness, responded by stating his vow of non-violence, even in the face of battle. He declared that he would not harm any living being, even those who were fleeing or weaponless. The king, understanding Chandrachandra's firm resolve and spiritual inclination, appointed him to various important positions, including head of security, chief minister, and eventually, the supreme ruler.

Meanwhile, the demon Kumbha, known for his wickedness and powerful army, invaded the king's territory. Chandrachandra, accompanied by his brave soldiers, intercepted Kumbha. Kumbha, overwhelmed by Chandrachandra's forces and the fear of Chandrachandra's army, was captured. He begged for mercy, admitting his lack of valor. Chandrachandra, with a compassionate heart and a desire for justice, forgave Kumbha and reinstated him.

King Jayasena was highly impressed by Chandrachandra's magnanimity and appointed him as the heir to the throne, considering him even more valuable than his own son.

However, Surachandra, the elder brother, remained unsatisfied with his position as crown prince and harbored a desire for the throne. Driven by greed, he plotted to kill his father. One night, armed with a sharp weapon, Surachandra infiltrated the royal chambers, disguised and aided by cunning. He fatally wounded King Jayasena, who was asleep. The queen, witnessing the act, cried out for help, identifying the assailant. The guards pursued Surachandra, but the dying king recognized his son and ordered them not to kill him, wanting to know the identity of the attacker. The king, realizing Surachandra's corrupt nature, banished him from the kingdom, likening him to a wild camel removed from its herd.

The king then sent for Chandrachandra, who arrived to find his father in a critical condition. King Jayasena appointed Chandrachandra as the new king and, consumed by illness and hatred for Surachandra, died and was reborn as a leopard in the mountains.

Surachandra, stained by his wicked deeds, wandered through foreign lands and eventually entered a dense forest. There, he was attacked and killed by a leopard, which was none other than his father, driven by their past enmity. Surachandra's soul was reborn as a hunter in the same forest. He was subsequently killed by the same leopard, who was his brother.

Enraged by the leopard's actions, Surachandra's relatives killed the leopard. Both the leopard and the man were then reborn as pigs in the same forest. For three years, they remained in conflict, driven by their animosity. Eventually, they were killed by a group of hunters.

Subsequently, they were reborn as deer in another forest, continuing their mutual conflict until they were killed by a hunter. They were then reborn as young elephants in a herd. While fighting within the herd, they were captured by a group of hunters. Eventually, they were brought before King Chandrachandra. Despite the efforts of the mahouts, they continued to fight and cause trouble.

During this time, the sage Sudarshana, who had previously met Chandrachandra, arrived in the kingdom. King Chandrachandra, filled with devotion, went with his subjects to pay respects to the sage. After offering his respects, the king listened to the sage's spiritual teachings. At the end of the discourse, the king inquired about the cause of the intense enmity between the two elephants. The omniscient sage revealed the history of their feud.

Moved by the story and experiencing renunciation, King Chandrachandra abdicated his throne, appointing his son as the new king. He then took to asceticism, living a life of austerity and penance, which illuminated him with the brilliance of the sun. After his earthly life, he attained the celestial realms, experiencing immense happiness.

The two elephants, however, were reborn in hell, suffering the consequences of their actions and continuous strife. They continued to be reborn in lower life forms, enduring suffering throughout countless lifetimes.

The narrative concludes by stating that the soul of King Chandrachandra, after enjoying celestial bliss for a long period, was reborn as a pure human and attained liberation (moksha). The story serves as a testament to the cause of salvation, urging all who desire spiritual well-being to embrace the vow of Ahimsa.

The book title is "Surachandra Charitram" and the author is Shri Vardhamansuri. The publication details are provided in Gujarati, mentioning Hiralal Hansraj of Jamnagar as the publisher and the printing press, along with the price and year of publication. The text itself is presented in Gujarati with Hindi transliteration for certain religious phrases.