Court of Magadh
Abhaykumar and Contentment
अभयकुमार और संतोष · અભયકુમાર અને સંતોષ
Three crore jewels, one strange condition, and a prince who wanted nothing
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
When the people of Rajgruhi mock a new monk for having once been a poor woodcutter, clever Abhaykumar offers a fortune in jewels to teach them a lesson. Later the prince faces his own choice between a kingdom and contentment.
What it teaches Contentment Respect for monks Renunciation
The opening of the children's telling
In the city of Rajgruhi lived a poor woodcutter. One day he heard a wise teacher and decided to become a monk. But when he walked in the streets, people laughed. "He was only a woodcutter! He had nothing to give up!" This made the monk very sad.
Clever Prince Abhaykumar heard about it. He said, "Wait one day. I have an idea."
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Contentment is a jewel that no treasury can hold.
To talk about together
Why do you think it was harder for the people to give up water, fire and family than to give up jewels?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.