Court of Magadh
Shalibhadra
शालिभद्र · શાલિભદ્ર
The richest young man in Rajgruhi, and the one word that set him free
- 5 min full story
- 3 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
A poor shepherd boy gives away the only bowl of kheer he has ever had, and is born again into wealth beyond imagining. Years later, a single word spoken by his mother makes him ask who he really is.
What it teaches Daan Vairagya Detachment
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, a poor boy named Sangam lived with his mother. One festival day he saw other children eating kheer, sweet rice cooked in milk, and he wished for some too. His mother had nothing to make it with, so kind neighbours gave a little milk, a little rice and a little sugar. She made the kheer, gave Sangam a dish, and went to fetch water.
While the kheer was cooling, a Jain monk came to the door. He had not eaten for a whole month. Sangam's heart filled with joy, and he poured all of his kheer into the monk's bowl. The monk blessed him, and Sangam sat smiling over his empty plate. Not long after, his short life came to an end, but the happiness of his giving stayed with his soul.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Whatever you give with a glad heart is never lost.
To talk about together
Why do you think the word master troubled Shalibhadra so much, when he already had everything?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.