The Tirthankaras
The Six Sons of Devaki
देवकी के छह पुत्र · દેવકીના છ પુત્રો
Three pairs of monks at the queen's door, and a mother's secret revealed
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
In Dwarka, Queen Devaki is puzzled when pair after pair of identical monks come to her palace for alms. Bhagwan Neminath reveals a secret about her own children.
What it teaches Motherhood Karma Renunciation
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in the city of Dwarka, lived Queen Devaki, the mother of Shri Krishna. When she was a girl, a monk told her, "One day you will have eight wonderful sons." Devaki remembered those words all her life, like a little treasure in her heart.
One morning two monks came to her palace for food. Devaki gave them sweet laddoos. A little later, two more monks came. They looked just the same! Then two more came, and they looked the same too. Devaki smiled and gave food to them too.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Love is never lost; it can find its way back to us in unexpected ways.
To talk about together
Why do you think the six brothers chose to become monks together?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.