Maharaja Meghrath and Dove (Shri Shantinath Bhagwan Charitra)

Thread

#Jainism

There're twelve births of Bhagwan Shri Shantinath. However we're going to read about bhav as Maharaja Meghrath.

Once upon a time Maharaja Meghrath was in the Paushadh Shala, studying sermons. At that time a dove came from somewhere & hid itself in the lap of Maharaja. (1/n)

Immediately after that a hawk also turned up at the same spot. It asked Maharaja to give away his prey. Maharaja declined & tried to convince the hawk. But the hawk was adamant & said that it was his prey and without it, it would die. It argued in the human language. (2/n)

"As this dove took your shelter because of fear, I am also hungry and it is my prey. You therefore let me know that whose shelter I should take.” The king then proposed to hawk that he would donate his flesh equal to the weight of the dove to satisfy his hunger. (3/n)

Hawk agreed. King called for a balance. In one pan of the balance dove settled. King started cutting his flesh from the thighs & other parts of the body & placed in the other pan. Weight in the pan of dove started increasing & in the pan of the flesh started decreasing. (4/n)

King observed this, stopped cutting flesh & put himself in to the pan. Miracle happened!! Both dove & hawk appeared in their original form as demigods (devta) & praised King Meghrath. They also told the gatherings that they came there to examine the king’s tolerance. (5/n)

Such was love of Maharaja Meghrath for lives, be it in any form!

Bolo Shri Shantinath Bhagwan ki Jay!

PS: @jain_revival had asked me to write this thread. Much anumodana to him! (6/6)