Lay Followers
The Daughter-in-law Soma
बहू सोमा · વહુ સોમા
A pot, a dark evening, and a garland of fresh flowers
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
Soma brings her quiet morning prayers into a new home where no one wants them, and she answers every harsh word with patience. One evening her mother-in-law hands her a pot and asks her to bring out the garland inside.
What it teaches Patience Faith Ahimsa
The opening of the children's telling
Soma was a little girl who loved to pray. Every morning she sat very still and said the Navkar Mantra. It made her feel calm and happy.
When Soma grew up, she married and went to live with a new family. But her new family did not like prayers. Her mother-in-law was often cross. "Stop praying and get to work!" she said.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Patience is a quiet strength that can soften even a hard heart.
To talk about together
Soma never answered back, even when people were unkind. Is it easy or hard to stay gentle when someone is cross with you?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.