Parables of Wisdom
The Devoted Frog
A small frog who set out to see Bhagwan Mahavir
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
A merchant who loved his wife too much is born again as a frog in his own well. When Bhagwan Mahavir comes near the city, the little frog joins the crowd going to see him.
What it teaches Devotion Attachment Bhakti
The opening of the children's telling
In Rajgruhi lived a merchant named Nagdatta and his wife, Bhavdatta. Nagdatta loved her so much that he held on to her and his home very tightly, and could hardly bear to be away.
In time, Nagdatta's life came to an end. Because his heart was still so tied to his home, he was born again as a little frog, in the well of his own house.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Where the heart is pointing at the last moment matters more than how far the feet have gone.
To talk about together
Nagdatta's love for his home brought him back as a frog. What is the difference between loving someone and clinging to them?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.