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and charged towards the princes. Looking at the approaching lion Triprishtha thought, “The creature is alone moving on its
feet, who do I need my bodyguards and the chariot? When it does not carry and weapon why should I? I will face it alone and
bare handed”. Triprishtha got down from the chariot and threw away his weapons. He fought alone and bear handed with the
ferocious men-eater. In the end he caught hold of the jaws of the lion and tore it apart. Standing at a safe distance, the
farmers jumped with joy and hailed the prince. The driver of the chariot of the prince went near the writhing lion, said a few
words of sympathy, and covered its wounds with medicinal herbs. The dying moments of the beast became peaceful. This
act infused a feeling of affection for the driver in the mind of the dying lion. (M-2/1)
When the driver reincarnated as the chief disciple of Bhagavan Mahavir, Indrabhuti Gautam, this lion born as a farmer. When
the farmer saw Gautam he was infused with a feeling of fraternity and respect for Gautam. He became Gautam’s disciple.
But when he happened to see Bhagavan Mahavir, the dormant feelings of fear and vengeance surfaced. Bhagavan Mahavir
then dormant feelings of fear and vengeance surfaced. Bhagavan Mahavir then revealed the cause of these dormant
feelings by narrating the story
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of his earlier life.
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(M-2/2)
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Prince Triprishtha conquered the evil king, Prativasudev Ashvagriv, and established his own empire over three continents. He
became the first Vasudev of this cycle of time.
Lead in the Ears
Once the Vasudev was enjoying a musical concern in his assembly. When his eyelids became heavy with slumber he
instructed his bed attendant, “When I am asleep stop the program?”
After a few minutes Triprishtha closed his eyes and went to sleep. Everyone present was engrossed in the lilting music. The
concern went on throughout the night. Suddenly Vasudev was awake. When he heard the music concert still going on, he
turned crimson with anger. He shouted angrily at the attendant, “Why the music has not been stopped yet?” With folded
hands the bed attachment submitted, “Everyone was lost in the intoxicating waves of the melodious music. Pardon me Sire!
I too became lost”. The negligence in following his instructions added fuel to the fire of Triprishtha’s anger. Directing all his
anger on the negligent aide, he said, “Pour molten lead in the ears of this music buff. Let him realize the consequences of
ignoring the instructions of his master for the sake of his love for music”. Vasudev’s order was carried out. Writhing with
extreme and intolerable agony the bed attendant died on the spot. (M-3/1)
The soul in the form of Triprishtha accumulated the bondage of tarnishing Karmas due to its extremely cruel attitude. It had
to suffer the excruciating result in the form and life as Mahavir. The aide reincarnated as a farmer and hammered nails in
Mahavir’s ears when he did penance as a Shraman. As a result of the intoxication of power, passion for grandeur, and cruelty
of attitude, Triprishtha Vasudev, after living his age was reborn in the seventh hell. In his twenty first incarnation he became
a lion; in the twenty second he again went to the forth hell, and after that he was born as Priyamitra Chakravarti in the twenty
third birth. (M-3/2)
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The right Direction: Priyamitra Chakravarti
After seeing many auspicious dreams, the queen of Dhananjay, the ruler of Mukanagari, gave birth to a son. He was named
as Priyamitra. As a result of his virtuous Karmas and his bravery he conquered all the six continents and became a Chakravarti.
He enjoyed all these pleasures and grandeur befitting a Chakravarti. In the end, he got detached and became a Shraman by
taking Diksha (the formal act of renouncing the mundane life style) from Pottilacharya. For about ten million years he
indulged in serving the guru, studying and pondering over the scriptures, meditation, and a variety of austere penances.
Through these he continued to wipe out the tarnishing Karmas acquired during previous lives. Living his age, he was reborn
as a god in the Mahashukra Kalpa from where, in his next incarnation, he was born as the son of king Jitshatru of Chhatranagari.
(M-4/1)
Austere Practices: Nandan Muni
The life of prince Nandan (son of king Jitshatru) was like a lotus flower in the swamp of passions and mundane indulgences.
The attraction of the beauty and love of beautiful damsels did not divert him from his spiritual quest. Finally he became a
disciple of Pottilacharya. Becoming an ascetic, he started purifying his soul with the fire of penance. He undertook the tough
practice of the twenty step penance that includes discipline, penance, devotion for Arihant, service of the ascetic, and other
such purifying acts (See appendix 2). As a result of these practices, he earned the Tirthankar-nam-and-gotra-karma (the
Karma that would make him a Tirthankar in future births). He spent about a hundred thousand years as a Shraman with
perfect disciple. During this period he did one hundred and sixty thousand one-month fasts. Living his age with austere
practices, deep meditation, and unselfish service, he reincarnated as a god in the Pranat Pushpottar Viman (a specific
dimension of gods). This was the birth preceding his reincarnation as Mahavir. (M-4/2)
Amar Muni - Tirthankar Charitra - Surana # 30
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