Surpriyamuni Katha

Here's a comprehensive summary of the "Surpriyamuni Katha" in English, based on the provided text:

The book, "Surpriyamuni Katha," authored by Shri Kanakakul Gani, is a Jain narrative that tells the story of Surpriyamuni and highlights the importance of self-criticism and humility.

The Narrative Begins:

The story starts with Lord Mahavir (Shri Veer) residing in Rajagriha. His chief disciple, Lord Gautam Swami, who possesses great spiritual powers and knowledge, asks Lord Mahavir a question: "What is the fruit for one who always finds fault with himself and engages in self-condemnation?"

Lord Mahavir explains that self-praise and criticism of others are characteristics of the unqualified, while self-criticism and praise of others are traits of the virtuous. He then introduces the story of Surpriyamuni as an example of the benefits of self-criticism.

The Life of Surpriyamuni:

The narrative shifts to Jambudvipa, in the Bharata region, in the city of Susharma. The king of this prosperous city was Chandrayash, known for his righteousness and courage. His chief queen was Guntara. A wealthy merchant named Sundar, along with his wife Madanashri, had a son named Surpriya, renowned for his knowledge and virtues.

Surpriya was married to a beautiful and virtuous daughter. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, Sundar's family faced financial ruin. Facing poverty, Surpriya and his father, after some reflection and realizing that wealth is transient, decided to leave their home in search of fortune.

The Discovery of the Treasure:

They journeyed to a forest and rested under a banyan tree. There, they saw a white, peculiar plant called "Prapunnata." Remembering their guru's teachings about hidden treasures indicated by various natural signs, they deduced that a treasure was buried beneath the Prapunnata plant. The specific signs mentioned included: a plant resembling certain animals, a bird's footprint, an animal's footfall, or the sprouting of seeds. The treasure was said to be of great value, indicated by the color of the sap of the plant.

Father and Son's Greed and Conflict:

With the father and son's agreement, they decided to dig for the treasure. That night, they slept separately. The father, Sundar, contemplated digging for the treasure while his son slept, but he was also worried that if his son woke up, he would demand an equal share of the wealth. Similarly, Surpriya also had the same thought – how to keep the wealth for himself without his father knowing.

Driven by greed, Sundar secretly dug up the Prapunnata plant and found a beautiful, valuable necklace. He hid it elsewhere. Meanwhile, Surpriya, upon waking, saw that the plant had been uprooted and suspected his father. He went to his father and asked who had uprooted the plant, lamenting that his dreams of wealth were dashed. Sundar, feigning ignorance, said he didn't know. Enraged by this perceived deception, Surpriya, driven by his greed, killed his father.

Consequences and Rebirths:

As a consequence of his sin, Sundar was reborn as a lizard (Gaudher) guarding the necklace. Surpriya, after killing his father, took the necklace. The lizard, in its attempt to protect the treasure, was killed by a hawk (Syena) and reborn in hell. Surpriya, after his death, was also reborn as a lizard (Gaudher).

Encounter with the Sage:

Surpriya, now in the form of a lizard guarding the treasure, was consumed by his greed. One day, a great sage ( Muni) was performing Kayotsarga (a form of meditation) nearby. The lizard, motivated by its past actions and perhaps a flicker of guilt, dropped the necklace around the sage's neck.

The King's Involvement and Surpriya's Enlightenment:

The King of Susharma, whose wife owned the necklace, discovered it was missing. A maid informed him, and the king ordered a search. The king's men found the sage with the necklace around his neck and accused him of theft. The sage was brought before the king.

The sage, recognizing Surpriya in his lizard form, revealed the entire past life narrative. He explained that Surpriya had killed his father out of greed, and his father was now the lizard guarding the treasure. Surpriya, hearing this, was filled with remorse and regret for his actions. He realized the devastating consequences of greed and the cycle of suffering it perpetuates.

Surpriya's Renunciation and King's Path:

Overwhelmed by his past deeds, Surpriya, the lizard, renounced his attachment to the treasure and sought guidance from the sage. He expressed his desire for penance. The sage granted him the vow of anashana (fasting unto death). Upon completing his lifespan as a lizard, he was reborn as a divine being in the Saudharma heaven.

The king, upon hearing the sage's explanation of the past lives and the devastating effects of greed, was deeply moved. He renounced his kingdom and became an ascetic, following the sage. He lived a life of strict asceticism and eventually attained liberation.

The Sage's Enlightenment and Final Message:

The sage, Surpriya (in his current life, having progressed significantly spiritually), continued his ascetic practices. Later, as a Muni, he was again falsely accused of theft when the same hawk that had killed the lizard (his father) dropped the necklace into his lap while he was meditating. The king, now a sage himself, was involved in this.

This time, when the king ordered his execution, the sage Surpriya, through his spiritual powers and knowledge of past lives, broke the ropes and chains. He then attained Kevalgyan (omniscience). The king, realizing his mistake and the sage's innocence, repented and sought forgiveness.

The sage then revealed the complete chain of past lives, including the king's past connection. The king, remembering his own past actions, also felt immense remorse and followed the sage's path of renunciation.

The Moral of the Story:

The story concludes by stating that for all three beings (Surpriya, his father, and the king who was involved in the accusations), self-criticism ultimately led to their spiritual progress. The text emphasizes that self-praise should be avoided, and self-criticism is the path to purification and liberation. The narrative reinforces Lord Mahavir's initial teaching about the virtue of self-reflection and humility. The story was written by Kanakakushal Gani for the welfare of others.