006. The Play between Fate and Efforts

The Play between Fate and Efforts
Praduman Kumar was kidnapped in his childhood by the great devil Dhumketu as he had a sense of revenge against him. In previous birth Praduman was the king Madhu and he had stolen the wife of this monster so as a result of that sin Kumar was kidnapped. Dhumketu reached to a high hill taking away Praduman and kept Praduman under a heavy rock and disappeared. After some time Kalsanwar, the king of Meghkutt was passing through there with his wife Kanakmala in a flying chariot. His chariot suddenly stopped through some magical power. When they searched for its reason, they found the rock moving. Kalsanwar removed that rock with his siddhies and saw a little child lying there. Being happy he gave this child to his wife Kanakmala. The queen said, ``You had 500 sons. If you promise me that this adopted child will be the prince of Meghkutt, I will accept it.'' The king had no objection to this.

Reaching Meghkutt, they celebrated this occasion wholeheartedly. There little Praduman grew up in all comforts and luxuries, and was skilled in many arts. At the age of sixteen, he was honoured by the king as the would be king of Meghkutta. His 500 step brothers were jealous of him and conspired kill him. They were always conscious of finding some appropriate chance to murder him. Even they mixed poison in the food of Praduman Kumar. But luckily the poison was changed into nector.

Sometimes, they brought Praduman near Gopur, a high fort with the cruel intensions of killing him. They inspired him to climb on the peak of the fort as the successful man will get a large amount of money from the angels living there. Inspired by them, Kumar climbed at the peak easily and brought the crown and jewels from the angels. Then Kumar entered the cave named `Mahakal' and came out with a lot of arms as the sword, shield, kshtra etc. After that he went to Naga Guha and got a number of royal things as Nagshaiya, beautiful seat, sitar and the magic to make the buildings. He was gifted with a high flag from the angel of garden. Then he entered into fire fearlessly and had two special cloths purified by fire. After entering in the `Panduk' forest and returned with a crown and a garland full of nector from the angel Makar. From Meshakriti forest he had two superb kundals (rings). He had a magical elephant in Kapil forest. He gained the different jewels and crnaments from `Valmik' and `Sharab' mountains. Shukerdeva gave him a beautiful bow and shankh. Manoveg gave him an extraordinary garland and a number of specific things. Praduman Kumar removed the enemity between Manoveg and Basant Vidyadhar, that's why he was honoured by a pretty daughter and Narendrajal. Kumar proceeded further and had many arrows from a palace that remove the gross emotions as pride, misery, depression, ego etc. From Nagguha (cave) he had the scented flowers, the flowery bed, kshtra decorated with flowers, Going at Jayant Giri he was gifted the pretty daughter of honourable parents—Vidyadhar Vayu and Saraswati. All his 500 brothers were amazed to see Kumar blessed with so many siddhies. They realised the greatness of Praduman and returned to their palace with Praduman, who was glorifying on the heavenly carriage, beautified with all royal jewels and ornaments. At this time it was just to compare Kumar with Kamdeva as he had a magical charm to the millions of hearts of beautiful girls. Praduman entered into Meghkutt Nagar surrounded by his 500 co-brothers.

The above description makes one thing clear that nobody can harm the noble virtuous persons leading to the path of religion and karma. Praduman's 500 brothers planned sixteen times to kill him, but Praduman not only succeeded to overcome all hurdles but was gifted with various surpeme things due to his pre earned merits (punya) and wise efforts. Praduman Kumar went to pay his due regards to his parents Kalsanwar and Kanakmala. But his religious mother Kanakmala, being maddened by his charming personality had the sensuous feeling of love for him. But the noble Kumar condemned this unjust love. Kanakmala told Kumar about his previous life and said, ``Neither I am your mother nor you are my son.'' Kumar went to Rev. Shri Sagarchandra Muni to confirm the truth. The great Avadhigyani Muni conveyed the life of his many past bhavas and also informed him that he will get two siddhies from Kanakmala.

When Praduman went to meet Kanakmala, she offered her love to him and said, ``Kumar ! If you love me I will give you two specific arts (siddhies). ``But Kumar was not moved by her impulsive passions. He succeeded in getting two siddhies from her through his wit and artful words, and then said, ``you are my teacher (Guru) as you have given me gyan-daan. ``Saying this he touched her feet and gave three pradikshna (three moving rounds in circle). He said humbly, ``Mother order me to do what is worthy of a good son or a disciple.'' Kanakmala had no answer to this. She had failed in her plans.

Here, my readers can feel the struggle going on between fate and efforts. Even the mother fell down in love with his son though not real, due to some previous karma. But the generous kumar not only won this most critical battle of life with success without loosening his plety and character, but also succeeded in learning two siddhies from her on the basis of his wisdom. This was the most critical moment but Kumar was firm on the path of religion and goodness. That is why he passed in it with superb rewards. On the other hand, queen Kanakmala led to the immoral path of degeneration crossing the limit of her Sheel-Dharma. Kanakmala wanted to win the heart of Praduman at any cost. When she failed to attract Kumar through fair means, she wounded her body at many places and came to her husband Kalsanswar and blamed Praduman that he had tried to spoil her chastity. Well, the sexual love makes a man blind, he looses the sensibility of good and bad. These undesirable passions lead man to limitless crimes and sins. The king was angry to know this from the queen. He called his 500 sons and whispered in their ears, ``This wicked fellow Praduman should be killed through a well planned scheme.''

All the brothers were overwhelmed with joy to know the intention of their father. One day they took away Praduman with great respect to sa small river named Kalambu. They inspired Praduman to play in the river. At that very time Praduman heard the voice of Pragapti Siddhi that told him about the real intentions of his wicked brothers. He was angry to hear this. He concealed his real body somewhere through magic and jumped into the river with his artificial body. The cruel brothers jumped over him. But brace Praduman defeated them and hanged them in water. Only one of 500 brothers went to King Kalsanwar to give this news. As Kalsanwar heard this, he was violently furious and challenged Praduman in the battlefield with a great army. Praduman also raised a great army through his magical tricks. Being defeated Kalsanwar went to Kanakmala and requested her to give him Pragapti Siddhi as he is in the urgent need of it.

Kanakmala replied, ``I have given Pragapati Siddhi to Praduman in the childhood through milk feeding. Knowing the wickedness of his wife, poor Kalsanwar returned to the battlefield again. Praduman arrested the king and put him on a rock. Just then Naradmuni came there. Praduman welcomed Narad with great honour and freed the king from the bonds. He said, ``Mother Kanakmala has done everthing due to previous karma. Therefore, she should be forgiven.'' Praduman forgave even his 500 brothers and fell down on their feet for their blessings. This shows the nobility and greatness of Praduman Kumar.

Now Praduman expressed his curosity to meet Rukmini and Krishna and requested his father to permit him to go. The king gave him permission. Bowing to all, Praduman proceeded to Dwarika Nagri with Narad. After reaching there, Praduman married Udadhi Princess on the basis of his life happily in the company of his mother Rukmani and other relatives. He was married to a number of beautiful princesses due to his pre acquired merits. He enjoyed all the worldly pleasures and then adopted Nirgrantha Muni Diksha to get the ideal permanent state of infinite happiness. He destroyed all the fortuness and misfortunes through Ratantraya, Samyak Darshan, (Samyak Gyanan, Samyak Charitra) and was blessed with the goddess of Mukti or Salvation.

The readers can feel the play between fate and efforts going through the whole story. Praduman was born in the house of a great emperor (Chakravarti) due to his pre-enrned merits (punyas). He was stolen in his childhood due to some previous sins (Paap). He was safe even under the rock due to his good karmas. It was the result of his previous good karma again that he grew up at the palace of king kalsanwar in all luruies and comforts. His five hundred brothers planned to kill him sixteen times but praduman was safe from all disasters due to the prominence of his good karmas (Destiny). He was gifted with sixteen royal specific gifts. Kanakmala his religious mother fell down in love with her step son Praduman due to some previous karma. But Praduman Kumar succeeded at such a critical moment and got two siddhies—Pragapti and Rani Siddhie from her. Kalsanwar, inspired by the queen Kanakmala conspired many times to kill Praduman but he himself was defeated in the battefield. On the other hand, Praduman Kumar embraced victory in every crucial examination of life only due to his noble virtues and firm faith in relgion. Praduman Kumar's life was full of all luxuries and pleasures but the great Praduman knew the reality of this world and self (soul), therefore, he tread on the path of spiritual efforts and meditation after adopting Nirgrantha Digamber Muni Diksha to liberate his soul from the bondage of all karmas. In the end he gained perfect bliss through perfect means. In other words, he attained the most perfect bliss of life that is Moksha or salvation.