Part 3: Dhanya

Now in this city there was a very rich man, named Dhanya, the husband of Śālibhadra’s youngest sister. At that time Śālibhadra’s sister was bathing him (her husband) in tears and he asked her, “Why are you crying?” She replied with sobs: “My brother abandons one wife and one mattress each day in order to take the vow. I am crying for that reason.”

Dhanya said jokingly: “Whoever does so is afraid of penance, like a jackal. Your brother is lacking in courage.” His other wives said to him laughingly, “If the vow is easy to practice, lord, why do you yourself not practice it?” Dhanya said: “These women who were an obstacle to the vow have given their consent to me today because of my merit. So I shall take the vow quickly.”

They said seriously: “Be kind. We said that as a joke. Do not abandon wealth and us, wise sir.”

“Giving up impermanent things—women, money, et cetera—from a desire for a permanent state, I shall certainly take initiation,” Dhanya said and got up. “Following you, we shall take initiation,” they said. Noble-minded Dhanya gave his consent, thinking himself fortunate.

Now, Śrī Vīra stopped on Mt. Vaibhāra and Dhanya heard of him at once from word from a co-religionist. After giving gifts, he got into a palanquin with his wives and, afraid of existence, went to Mahāvīra’s feet as a refuge. With his wives he took initiation in the Master’s presence.

When he heard that, Śālibhadra hastened forth, thinking himself excelled. After that, accompanied by King Śreṇika, he went and took the vow at Śrī Mahāvīra’s feet. Then the Master, Siddhārtha’s son, with his entourage went elsewhere in his wandering, like the lord of an elephant-herd with the herd.

Dhanya and Śālibhadra became very famous and practiced severe penance like the edge of a sword. Completely indifferent to their bodies, the munis broke fast after fasts of a fortnight, a month, two months, three months, and four months. The great munis, Dhanya and Śālibhadra, became like leather bags from fasting, their bodies emaciated and bloodless.

One day, the munis, accompanied by Śrī Mahāvīra, came to the city Rājagṛha, their own birth-place. Then the people by reason of pre-eminent faith, went unceasingly from the city to pay homage to the Lord of the World occupying a samavasaraṇa. Both Dhanya and Śālibhadra at the end of a month’s fast bowed to the Blessed One (for permission) to wander for alms at the right time. Told by the Master, “Today you will break fast at your mother’s,” Śālibhadra said, “I wish it,” and went away with Dhanya.

The two went and stood at the door of Bhadrā’s house; and they were recognized by no one because of their emaciation from penance. Even Bhadrā, intent on the thought, “I am going today to pay homage to Śrī Vīra, Śālibhadra, and Dhanya,” eager, did not recognize them. After waiting there a moment, the great sages went away. They left (the city) by the highway from the city-gate.

Then Dhanyā, Śālibhadra’s mother in a former birth who was going to sell curds and ghī in the city, met them. When she saw Śālibhadra, a flow of milk took place and, after she had paid homage devotedly to their feet, she gave them both curds. Śālibhadra went to Śrī Vīra’s presence, narrated that and, making the aṭjali, said, “Master, how was the fast-breaking from the mother?” The Omniscient explained to Muni Śālibhadra that Dhanyā was his mother in a former birth and explained other things arising from the other birth.

After breaking their fast with the curds and taking leave of the Master, Śālibhadra and Dhanya went to Mt. Vaibhāra. Śālibhadra and Dhanya resorted to the fast named ‘pādapopagama’ there on a slab of rock that had been inspected for life.

At that time his mother Bhadrā and King Śreṇika, full of devotion, went to Śrī Vīra’s presence. Then Bhadrā said: “Where are the munis, Dhanya and Śālibhadra? Why have they not come to my house for alms, Lord of the World?” The Omniscient said: “The munis went to your house. But you—your mind intent on coming here—did not know them. Your son’s mother in a former birth, Dhanyā, going to the city, gave them curds and they broke their fast with that. Both, noble, eager to abandon existence, went to Mt. Vaibhāra and observed a fast.”

Then Bhadrā went with Śreṇika to Mt. Vaibhāra and saw them placed in such a way, as if they were made of stone. Seeing his miserable condition and recalling his comforts, she wept, making Mt. Vaibhāra weep, as it were, by the echoes.

“Do not show me disfavor, son, because miserable I, having little luck, through carelessness did not know you when you came to my house. Even if you have deserted us, yet you will rejoice our eyes by the sight of you. This was my wish formerly. Now you are intent on destroying that wish of mine, by this undertaking with the purpose of abandoning the body, son. The penance which you undertook there, I do not oppose for you; but this is much harsher. You became like a slab of stone.^[1]

Then Śreṇika said: “Why do you weep instead of rejoicing? You who have such a son, alone among women, have a son. He, knowing the fundamental principles, noble, having abandoned wealth like straw, reached the Master’s feet like the highest place (emancipation) before his eyes. He practiced penance suitable for a disciple of the Master of the World. Why is he annoyed uselessly by you, foolish woman, because of your woman’s nature?”

Thus enlightened by the king, Bhadrā paid homage to the great munis and, disconsolate, went to her own house. Śreṇika did likewise.

After the two gieat munis died, they became chief-gods in the heavenly palace named Sarvārthasiddha, immersed in an ocean of wonderful joy, with life-terms of thirty-three sāgaras.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See Text Corrections.