Lay Followers
Sajjan Mantri and Pratikraman
सज्जन मंत्री और प्रतिक्रमण · સજ્જન મંત્રી અને પ્રતિક્રમણ
A commander who said his prayers on an elephant before the battle
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Shvetambar telling
Sajjan, a devoted Jain official of Patan, has never once missed his evening pratikraman. When an invading army reaches the city and he is made commander, his soldiers wonder how such a gentle man can lead them, and how he will keep his vow.
What it teaches Pratikraman Duty Steadfastness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in the city of Patan, lived a good man named Sajjan. Every single evening, before he went to sleep, Sajjan did his pratikraman. He sat quietly, thought about his day and said sorry for anything he had done wrong. He said sorry to every living being, even the tiny ones.
One day an army came to attack the city. Everyone was frightened. The queen asked Sajjan to lead the soldiers and protect the people.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
A practice kept on easy days becomes strength for the hard ones.
To talk about together
Sajjan said his body served the queen but his mind was his own. What do you think he meant?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.