Court of Magadh
Abhaykumar Becomes a Monk
अभयकुमार की दीक्षा · અભયકુમારની દીક્ષા
A wise prince waits years for two angry words, and is glad to hear them
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
Abhaykumar longs to become a monk, but his father will only let him go on one strange condition. On a cold winter night, a misunderstanding in the palace brings that day closer than anyone expected.
What it teaches Renunciation Wisdom Hasty anger
The opening of the children's telling
Abhaykumar was a wise young prince. He loved to listen to Bhagwan Mahavir, and he wished to become a monk.
But his father, King Shrenik, did not want him to go. "I need you here," said the king. Then he smiled and made a funny promise. "On the day I get angry and tell you to go away, that day you may become a monk." The king thought that day would never come, because he loved his son so much.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Think before you order and before you shout; words spoken in anger cannot be called back.
To talk about together
What could King Shrenik have done differently when the doubt came into his mind?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.