कुण्डक कुमार नाम का एक
संयासी एक बार ठंड के दिनों में
हिमालय से उत्तर वाराणसी पहुँचा। वहाँ उसके
बचपन का मित्र एक सेनापति था। उसने
संयासी को राज-उद्यान में स्वच्छन्द भ्रमण की
अनुमति दी।
एक दिन कुण्डक कुमार उद्यान में बैठा तप कर रहा था कि तभी
वाराणसी का एक दुराचारी राजा अपनी प्रेमिकाओं के
साथ वहाँ प्रविष्ट हुआ। वहाँ वह उन
सुन्दरियों के साथ आमोद-प्रमोद करते हुए
सो गया। राजा को सोता छोड़ सुन्दरियाँ
बाग में भ्रमण करने लगी । तभी उनकी नज़र कुण्डक कुमार पर पड़ी जो
साधना में लीन था। सुन्दरियों ने उसका ध्यान आकृष्ट कर उसे उपदेश
सुनाने को कहा। कुण्डक कुमार ने तब उन्हें सहिष्णुता की महत्ता पर उपदेश देना प्रारंभ किया।
थोड़ी देर के बाद जब राजा की नींद टूटी और उसने अपनी
सुंदरियों को अपने पास नहीं पाया तो वह उन्हें ढूंढता हुआ कुण्डक कुमार के पास पहुँचा। एक
संयासी द्वारा उसकी सुन्दरियों का आकृष्ट हो जाना उसके
लिए असह्य था। अत: क्रोध से उसने संयासी
से पूछा कि वह उन सुन्दरियों को कौन
सा सबक सिखा रहा था। संयासी ने तब उसे
भी सहिष्णुता के महत्त्व की बात बताई जिसके परिपालन का
स्वयं उसने व्रत ले रखा था। यह सुन
राजा ने उसे कोड़ों से पिटवाया। जब वह लहुलुहान हो गया तो
राजा ने फिर पूछा कि उसके व्रत का क्या हुआ? खून
से लथपथ सन्यासी को कोई क्रोध नहीं आया और वह सहिष्णुता के
व्रत का ही गुणगान करता रहा। क्रोध
में राजा ने तब उसके हाथ, फिर पैर आदि कटवा कर वही प्रश्न
बार-बार पूछा, किन्तु संयासी हर
बार शांत भाव से सहिष्णुता के व्रत की ही गाथा गाता । अंत
में उस संयासी की सहिष्णुता से परम क्रुद्ध हो
राजा ने उसकी छाती पर लात मारी और
वापिस लौट गया।
कहा जाता है कि राजा जब वापिस लौट रहा था तभी धरती
फट गई उसके अंदर से उठती आग की लपटों ने
राजा को निगल लिया। संयासी के घाव
भी तभी स्वयमेव क्षण मात्र में भर गये थे और वह पुन:
हिमालय पर वापिस चला गया।
O nce when a debauch king Kalabu reigned Varanasi, the Bodhisatta was born in the family of a wealthy merchant. His name was then Kundaka Kumar.
On
the death of his parents he realised the futility of amassing the wealth,
because the wealth becomes useless after the death. So he renounced all
his riches and went to the Himalayas to lead a life of an ascetic.
In
course of time he returned to Varanasi to collect salt and vinegar. There
he became the guest of the commander-in-chief and was given an abode in
the royal park.
One day, King Kalabu under the influence of strong drinks visited the royal park surrounded by the female dancers. He laid his head on the lap of one of his favourite women and started revelling in the dance and music. Soon he dozed off. When the women found him sleeping they left him and started frolicking in the park. Discovering the ascetic meditating in the park they requested him to give some sermon. In the mean time the king woke up and enquired about his women. Not finding them around, he looked for them in the park and found them besieging the holy sage.
Sage
Kundaka Kumar giving discourses to the king's women, Ajanta
Having been infuriated
at the sight of his women being attracted to another man, he drew out his
sword to kill him. However, when persuaded by the women he stopped. Yet,
in his anger he asked the ascetic: What doctrine you preach, O monk!
The doctrine of forbearance, sir, the holy sage replied. What is
this forbearance?, asked the angry king. Not to be angry when men
abuse you and beat you, answered the ascetic. I will test the your
forbearance then, saying the king ordered his men to give the ascetic
two thousand stripes with the lash of thorns. When this was done, the king
scornfully asked, what doctrine do you preach, O Monk! "The
doctrine of forbearance, Your Highness, the unruffled the Bodhisatta
replied. Cut off the head of this spurious ascetic, the king
ordered. This was also done. He then ordered, off with his feet,
too. His feet were also chopped off. What do you preach, now,
again the king asked, expecting him to change his view. I Practise the
doctrine of forbearance, sir! said the ascetic. This further infuriated
the king; who got his nose and ears cut off. Then the Bodhisatta said,
my forbearance is seated not on my nose or ears, but is deep inside my
heart. By then the kings patience had run out and he kicked him on
his heart and left the place.
By
that time the Bodhisatta was steeped in blood. Yet, he uttered: "long
live the king whose cruel hands have thus damaged me. Nevertheless, a pure
person shall never be angry to practise the virtue of forbearance.
When
the king was returning, the earth split into two and devoured him then and
there.
Some
say that the Bodhisatta died on the same day. Some, however, believe that
all his wounds soon healed up and he flew back to the Himalayas.
[Kalabu is identified with Devadatta; and the lion with Bodhisatta].
See
Khantivadi Jataka Jataka Pali No.313;
Dhammapada Atthakatha 1.126; Khuddakapatha-Atthakatha
149; Buddhavamsa Atthakatha
51; Ksantivadin Jataka No.28, Jatakamala .