Parables of Wisdom
Ujjhitkumar and Pride
उज्झितकुमार · ઉજ્ઝિતકુમાર
A boy who thought he was greater than everyone, even a lion
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
An abandoned baby grows up in a merchant's home so full of pride that he will bow to no one, not his parents, not his teacher, not even the king. His pride carries him from trouble to trouble, and across many lives.
What it teaches Pride Humility Karma
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, a kind merchant found a little baby all alone outside a city. He carried the baby home, and his wife looked after him. They named him Ujjhit.
Ujjhit grew up, but he had one big problem. He was very, very proud. He thought, I am the cleverest, the richest and the strongest. He would not bow to his mother or father. He would not say thank you to his teacher. He thought everyone else was small.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Bending your head costs nothing, and pride can cost everything.
To talk about together
Ujjhit would not run from the lion because he was afraid of being laughed at. When has pride stopped you from doing the sensible thing?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.