Court of Magadh
Abhaykumar and Rohineya
अभयकुमार और रोहिणेय · અભયકુમાર અને રોહિણેય
The clever thief, the cleverer minister, and the few words that changed everything
- 4 min full story
- 3 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
The cleverest thief in Magadh has promised never to listen to Bhagwan Mahavir. When Abhaykumar sets a brilliant trap for him, a few words he heard by accident decide the outcome.
What it teaches Truth Repentance Power of Mahavir's Words
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, near the city of Rajgruhi, lived a clever thief named Rohineya. His father had been a thief too. Before he left this world, his father said, promise me you will never listen to the words of Mahavir. Rohineya promised.
Rohineya kept stealing from the rich people of the city. The merchants went to King Shrenik for help, and the king asked his wise son Abhaykumar to catch the thief.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Even a few true words, heard at the right moment, can turn a whole life around.
To talk about together
Why did Mahavir ask Rohineya to confess to the king before becoming a monk?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.