Court of Magadh
Queen Chelna and King Shrenik
रानी चेलना और राजा श्रेणिक · રાણી ચેલણા અને રાજા શ્રેણિક
A king who set out to test a monk, and a queen who knew he would pass
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
King Shrenik loves his queen Chelna but doubts the Jain monks she honours. Determined to prove them false, he plays a cruel trick on a monk in the forest, and what he finds when he returns changes him for ever.
What it teaches Faith Equanimity Patience Forgiveness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago there was a kind queen named Chelna. She was married to King Shrenik of Magadh. They loved each other very much.
Queen Chelna loved the Jain monks, who were always calm and gentle. But the king said, Nobody can be that calm. If someone bothers them, they will get angry like everyone else.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
True calm treats the one who hurts and the one who helps with the same kindness.
To talk about together
Why do you think the monk's blessing for both the king and the queen changed the king's heart?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.