The Tirthankaras
Mahapadma Chakravarti
महापद्म चक्रवर्ती · મહાપદ્મ ચક્રવર્તી
A promise kept, a cruel minister, and a monk who asked for three steps of land
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
The ninth world emperor gives his minister a boon and keeps his word even when it costs him dearly. When the minister uses that boon against the monks, the emperor's elder brother, a great sage, must decide what to do.
What it teaches Keeping one's word Protecting the sangh Anger and forgiveness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in the city of Hastinapur, there were two brothers. The older one, Vishnukumar, became a monk. The younger one, Mahapadma, became a great emperor.
Mahapadma had a clever helper named Namuchi. One day Mahapadma said, I will give you any gift you want. Namuchi said, I will ask for it later.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Keep your word, protect the gentle, and let anger go once the danger has passed.
To talk about together
Mahapadma kept his promise even when it caused trouble. Was that the right choice? Why?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.