Lay Followers
King Chandravatamsak's Samayik
राजा चंद्रावतंसक का सामायिक · રાજા ચંદ્રાવતંસકનું સામાયિક
A king's promise to stay still as long as the lamp kept burning
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Shvetambar telling
On a cold winter night King Chandravatamsak promises to stay in samayik until the lamp in his room goes out. A devoted maid, not knowing his vow, keeps filling the lamp with oil.
What it teaches Samayik Steadfastness Vows
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in the city of Saket, lived a good king named Chandravatamsak. Every day, he liked to do samayik. He sat or stood very still, with a calm and peaceful heart, not angry, not worried, just quiet.
One cold winter night, the king lit a little lamp in his room. He made a promise. "I will stay in my quiet samayik for as long as this lamp is burning."
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
A promise held with a calm heart is stronger than one held with clenched teeth.
To talk about together
The maid kept filling the lamp because she wanted to help. How do you think the king felt about her, and why did he not stop her?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.