Monks and Acharyas
Prabhav Swami
प्रभव स्वामी · પ્રભવ સ્વામી
The robber who came to steal a treasure, and stayed to guard a greater one
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
A prince who was passed over for the throne becomes the most feared robber of his day. One night of listening turns him into a monk, and many years later he must find the person who will carry the teaching after him.
What it teaches Transformation Humility Seeking truth
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago there was a prince named Prabhav. His father gave the kingdom to his little brother instead of him. Prabhav was so upset that he ran away and became a robber chief.
One night Prabhav and his robbers crept into the house of a young man named Jambu. They made everyone fall asleep with a magic spell. But Jambu was wide awake, talking about kindness and the soul. Prabhav stood by the door and listened. The words were so beautiful that his heart changed. The next morning he became a monk with Jambu.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
A heart that truly listens can change in one night, and keep growing for a lifetime.
To talk about together
What do you think was harder for Prabhav: the night he changed, or the years that came after?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.