The maid was well acquainted with
all these characteristics and virtues of Seth Sudarshan. She
thought out a plan to bring Seth Sudarshan into the royal palace at
night. She got a clay image of a man made by a potter. One night clothing
the clay image and putting it on her head she began to enter the palace.
When the guards at the gate checked her, she intentionally shuddered and
shook her whole body. As a result the clay image fell down and broke down
into pieces. Instantly threatening the guards of severe consequences, she
spoke in a harsh voice, "O sinful persons! You have committed a great
crime. Today the queen had kept a vow of human worship. So she could take
food only after worshipping this clay idol. Now I will go to the queen and
complain against you. I will tell her how all of you made the clay image
fall to the ground, as a result of which it broke down to pieces. The
queen will award all of you severe punishment for it."
On hearing the words of the maid,
the guards were badly terrified and turned almost lifeless. They
apologized the maidservant in a very humble voice, "O gentle lady! You
alone can save us from punishment. In future, we shall never do such
behavior with you. Please pardon us this time." At this she said, "All
right! In future never come in my way and create hindrance in my religious
activities." So saying, she went away from there and brought the
meditating Sudarshan from the cremation ground into the palace loading him
on her shoulders. This time the guards did not check the maid. Thus, she
succeeded to fetch Sudarshan into the queen's royal room.
On seeing Sudarshan the queen's joy
knew no bounds. The lustful queen who was fully under the spell of a
passionate desire to derive sexual gratification from Seth
Sudarshan, made a humble appeal to him saying, "O jewel among men! You
excel even Kam Deva - the god of love in beauty. You have captivated my
heart. Now cool down my body burning with a passionate desire of sexual
gratification by holding me in your sweet embrace." But the pious hearted
noble Seth Sudarshan stood there firm and unmoved by her entreaties
and amorous glances. Then the queen tried to rouse his passion and
distract him from his firm stand by immoral and sexual motions and
gestures.
But the holy Seth who was
deeply lost in the meditation of Lord Jinendra did not budge in the least.
Just as the mount Sumeru does not shake by the cyclic winds and storms
that invade the earth on the dooms day; likewise great men never dwindle
from their firm determination at any cost. Meanwhile, Seth
Sudarshan took a pledge that if he came out successfully from this great
calamity and trial of his moral strength, he would get initiated into nude
Jain monkshood.
The queen badly failed to degrade
the noble soul Seth Sudarshan from his lofty moral character by all
her insane gestures arid tricks. She was fully disappointed and perturbed.
She now thought of seeking revenge on him for her disgrace. She scratched
her whole body, broke down her precious jewelry and tore down her clothes
with her own hands. Then she started wailing and crying loudly, "Alas! The
wicked Sudarshan tried to molest me and criminally assault me. What a
shame! This devil has turned me to such condition. O inmates and guards of
the palace! Run quickly and save my honor. Defend me! Protect me from this
brute. I had summoned him into my palace taking him for my brother. How
could I presume that this lusty fellow aspired to play with my body and
spoil my chastity."
On hearing the lamentation and
shrieks of the queen, the attendants and guards came running to the help
of the queen and rescued her. They arrested Sudarshan and presented him
before the king in the royal court. The king, ignorant of the reality,
believed the statement of the queen. The enraged king sentenced Seth
Sudarshan to death.
At the command of the king, the
hangmen took Sudarshan to the prosecution ground and struck a blow with a
sword on his neck to kill him. But lo! By the touch of his body the steel
sword turned into a delicate and fragrant flower garland. Flowers began to
rain from the sky. The Gods descended from the sky and began to sing hymns
in praise of the celibacy of Sudarshan. They spoke, "O Seth
Sudarshan! You are blessed. You are a true devotee of Lord Jinendra and a
perfect householder. Your celibacy is unbreakable."
The news of the miraculous incident that occurred at the prosecution
ground astonished the king highly. He at once went on the spot and
apologized to Sudarshan lying at his feet. All the city people began to
praise the celibacy of Seth Sudarshan.
The great poet Reidhu
explains the supreme virtue of celibacy or chastity as below:
Banbhcahau dudhru dharijyi varu
phaidijyi visyas nriru
Tiye sukhayim ratau mnr kari
matau tam ji bhav rakhaiu thiru
Chitbhumi mynru ji upjyi, tainr
ji pidiu karyi akajyi
Tivahm sriryim nrindyim saivyi ,
nriy parnrari nr mudhu yaiyi
Nrivjyi nriryi mhaduyi bhunjyi,
jo hinru ji vambhau bhanjyi
Iye janraipinru manr vye kaen,
bhamchairu palhu anruragam
Tainr sahu ji labhei bhavparu
banbhey vinru vautau jji asarau
Bhambau vinru kayekalaisyi ,
vihal sayal bhaseyi jinraisi
Bahir pharsindayi suh rakhau ,
param banbhu abhitari paikhau
Ainram ubaem labheyi siv haru,
im ryidhu bahu bhanryi vinryru
Jinrnrah bhijyi munri panrmijyi
dahlkhanru paliyinriru
Bhi khaimsinh suy bhav vinryjuy
holav manr ih karhu thiru
1. A man should adopt the difficult to
perform superb vow of celibacy; and discard the lustful ambitions for
sexual pleasures. This living being is running amuck like an elephant
whose mind is always engrossed in thoughts of sexual gratification.
Therefore, O grand souls! Safeguard the vow of celibacy with a firm mind.
2. Kam Deva - the god of love and
sex, as a rule takes birth in the soil of the unchaste mind. By its
onslaught the living beings perform improper deeds. They take delight in
the embrace of the disdain bodies of the ladies, and the fools fail to
make any distinction between their legally married wife and other's wife.
3. The mean fellow, who breaks the vow
of celibacy ultimately goes to hell, and suffers untold miseries there.
Knowing this truth, one should observe the vow of celibacy in thought,
speech and action whole-heartedly.
4. A living being is relieved from the
world by celibacy. All penances and vows are worthless without it. All
bodily tortures in the absence of celibacy are of no avail; such is the
opinion of Lord Jinendra.
5. Defend your soul from the outward
sensual pleasures derived through the sense of touch and maintain the
superb virtue of celibacy in the inner self - soul. The abode of celibacy
is attained through this plan. Such is the humble prayer of the great poet
Reidhu.
6. Observe in a noble way the ten
supreme universal virtues, which have been glorified by the omniscient
Lord Jinendra and to which the holy monks pay homage and bow in reverence.
Hence, O
Mortal Man! Observe celibacy, observe celibacy and under all odds observe
celibacy, which is the Supreme virtue, highly adulated by all religious
philosophies of the world. Violation of chastity of any woman by way of
criminal assault on her or otherwise, is a cognizable offence in all legal
systems of the world, punishable even to the extent of severe bodily
torture and hanging to death. Indeed, sweet are the fruits of celibacy.
To sum up,
men of chastity are men of character; and character is the supreme and
unique possession of a man. This is why the scholars assign the highest
value to character in human life. The great poet writes:
If wealth is lost, nothing is
lost;
If health is lost, something is
lost;
If character is lost,
everything is lost.
