05.IMMORALITY AND THE DOWN FALL OF THE RICH CHARUDATTA

IMMORALITY AND THE DOWN FALL OF THE RICH CHARUDATTA
(The prostitute keeps one man in her heart, talks with another; cohabits with the third; and invites the fourth by her gestures. How can you love her? The love of a prostitute is neither steady nor permanent. And how can a man who cohabits with a prostitute, whose mouth, thighs etc. are defiled with filth can remain clean? In other words, those who indulge in prostitution can not remain clean, whatsoever they do to In a country called “Angadesa” there was a beautiful city named Champa. A merchant named Bhanudatta lived there. He had a wife called Devila. She was worried as she had no issue. Devila was very simple but a foolish lady. She had no sense of discrimination between right and wrong ‘Gurus’ and therefore worshiped all gods, indiscriminately.

One day a Diagmbar Muni arrived in Champa in the course of his “Vihar”. He noticed the wrongful activities of Devila and addressed her: “Devila! all these activities you indulge inorder to have an issue are of no use to you. No god can do anything good or bad to you; be clean. CONTACT WITH PROSTITUTE & ITS CONSEQUENCES What ever good or bad one gets is due to his or her karmas; hence concentrate on getting good karmas by way of Right conduct. Engage yourself in practising Right conduct, based on Right belief. That alone shall bear and yield the desired fruit to you. “The preaching of the Muni had its own effect. Devila gave up wrong religious practices and started devoting her time and energy in practising Right conduct. Consequently she gave birth to a son who was named Charudatta.

Charudda was well behaved and highly intelligent. He had established command over scriptures in his very childhood itself.. He was extremely fond of study and used to keep himself ever engaged in it.

When Charudatta grown as a youngman, his parents arranged for marriage with Mitravati; She was the beautiful daughter of seth Siddhhartha .a resident of Champa. Charudatta continued his studies even after marriage. He remained quite ignorant of his marital obligations to his wife. A few days later Mitravati went to her parents house in the early morning. The ornaments and the hairs of Mitravati were intact indicating that she had no sexual relationship with her husband. Her mother noticed this. She was somewhat surprised and doubted whether there had been any quarrel in between the two; she asked Mitravati "was your husband not pleased with you? Had there been any quarrel between you and your husband?" Mitravati replied, "‘Mother! why are you thinking like this? A husband is displeased or annoyed with his spouse only when she disobeys or disregards him. Sofar myself is concerned,1 love my husband more than my life. 1 do not disobey him, even in dream. 1 consider my husband to be no less than a sacred person. The reson for my ornaments to remain undisturbed and hairs remaining well combed is due to the scholerly nature of my husband who always engaged in studies; he is indifferent towards other activities". This made Sumitra some what worried. She went to charudatta's house and told the mother of Charudatta in a complaining mood." Though your son appears to be merely well read, his knowledge is only theoretical • has no practical understanding,and he is a big fool. What is the use of such studies, which do not acquaint one with and make fulfill his marital obligations? Had I known this before, I would have never given the hand of my daughter to him." Devila, the mother of Charudatta somehow pacified Sumitra and sent her back home. She then called upon Rudradatta ,younger brother of her husband and explained him everthing about the visit of Sumitra and Charudatta’s indiference in family life. Rudradatta consoled Devila and assured that he would soon try to divert the attention of Charudatta from studies to amorous dalliance with Mitravathi.

Rudradatta then approached one of the famous prostitutes of the city named Vasantatilaka who had a daughter Vasantsena, an youthful and charming prostitute. Rudradatta discussed the problem of Charudatta with Vasantatilaka and requested her to help him to find a solution. He also promised a big reward to her incase she succeeded in solving that problem.Then Rudradatta met the King Vimalavahan and explained everything and pleaded for help. Maharaj Vimalvahan was a shrewd and intelligent King. He instructed his 'mahout, the driver of his elephant to arrange fighting of two elephants just at the moment when Charudatta would go to the market place near the residence of Vasanttilaka. The fight should be so arranged that Charudatta, in order to save his life would be forced to enter into the house of Vasanttilaka. As instructed by the King.the “Mahawat* arranged such a fight between two elephants just at the moment Rudradatta took Charudatta to the market near the residence of Vasanttilaka. Rudradatta along with Charudatta hurriedly rushed into the house of Vasanttilaka according to the plan and started gambling with Vasanttilaka just to pass the time. As per the plan Rudradatta lost heavily.Charudatta was watchin the game; in order to save Rudradatta from the loss he joined them and started gambling. In course of gambling. Vasanttilaka said to Charudatta, “O Charudatta! you are the son of a great merchant! It does not fit for you to play with me, as I have grown old and I am not fully mentally alert and sound. If you are so keen to play, you may do so with my young and beautiful daughter Vasantsena who is proper match to you. wait for some time; let me just call her”. Charudatta’s reply was, “you can call whomsoever you like”. In this way Vasantsena was summoned and introduce in the game. Charudatta began gambling with Vasantsena.

After some time during the game, Charudatta felt thirsty and requested Vasanttilaka to bring water. Hearing this Vasanttilaka brought water which was mixed with some material that induces excited sexual desire. Charudatta took it. After some time Charudatta became lustful. He strongly felt the urge for sexual coition. So he requested his uncle Rudradatta to go home and leave him alone. Rudradatta left the house of Vasanttilaka and Charudatta stayed back.

Thereafter Charudatta took Vasantsena to the upper story of the house and cohabited with her. Charudatta was not satisfied. The more he enjoyed her the more lustful he became. He stayed in the house of that prostitute for as long as six months, during which he gave a large part of his wealth to her. This made the parents of Charudatta worried. They tried to bring Charudatta to home, but failed in their. attempts. Charudatta was now a changed person; he badly suffred from sexual desire and could not leave the prostitute.

Bhanudatta. the father of Charudatta then sent a message informing him that he was serious ill and he wanted to see him. This time also Charudatta turned a deaf ear. Then Bhanudatta sent another message to the effect that his father had expired and Charudatta was required to cremate him and perform last rites. Even this message was ignored by Chardudatta, who was extremely over powered by lust / and had become insensible ,rather insane! Instead of going and arrang- ing the funeral for his father, he sent a reply to the effect that his father be cremated with sandalwood and other perfumeries!!

Having seen the extreme limit of moral degradition of his son, due to prostitution, Bhanudatta renounced the world and got himself initiated as a Digamber Muni; on the other hand Charudatta continued to fall. He lost all his wealth and became a pauper; Vasant tilaka knew this state of affairs; she took her daughter Vasantsena to a solitary place and advised her. “My good daughter! Charudatta has lost all his wealth. He is now a pauper. Hence you should stop living with him. The time has come for you to enamour and catch hold of some other rich young man. Persons like Charudatta are like fruitless trees. You are still a child that is why 1 am giving you this advise and guidelines.'’ Hearing this, Vasantsena replied in a choking voice, “Mother, you may be right, but I am unable to carry out your instructions. This pauper has now became my lifepartner. I cannot throw him out and catch another”.

Vasanttilaka was not expecting such a blunt reply from her daughter. But she was a shrewed and cunning woman. She remained quiet. Days passed on, and one day Vasanttilaka managed to give the food mixed with a strong sedative to Charudatta and Vasantsena so that the two were overpowered by fast sleep. Finding them to be in that state, Vasanttilaka removed all the precious ornaments and dress of Charudatta, put Charudatta in a bundle “Gathari” and threw that bundle in her latrine. Charudatta, due to loss of consciousness did not know any thing and remained in the toilet in that condition. In the early morning some swines roamed there and started licking the bundle. This made Charudatta some what little conscious. In that very pathetic condition he uttered “Oh Vasantsena! why are you disturbing me? let me sleep. 1 am still feeling much sleepy.” At that time a scavenger arrived there. He was surprised to see that bundle from which sound was coming out. He opened that bundle and saw Charudatta in it. Charudatta slowly got up; he understood everything and told the whole story to that scavanger.

Oh! Bhavyas! now look here, think of pitiable Charudatta in both capacities. Once he was the son of a wealthy merchant and as such he used to keep himself engaged in studies, day in and day out, without wasting even for a moment in other activities; now the same Charudatta did not wish to part with the prostitute, even for a moment and did not care for studies. He became a pauper and was thrown to a shameful and pathetic condition. There was a time when beggers used to crowd in front of his house and got alms!! but now?? now, the time had come when he became a beggar and could not have his own belly filled with some food. Take note of the ways and means of cunning persons. The prostitute who became rich and prosperous by robbing the wealth of Charudatta threw that very Charudatta in latrine and behaved cruelly once he became a pauper. Oh Brothers! give up this “Vyasan” evil habit prostitution - This “Vyasan” is the gateway of the agonies of hell. The man so habituated in prostitution ,can not get peace even for a moment. Prostitutes in fact do not love thier customers -visitors; they love in fact the wealth of their visitors only. The prostitutes dance to the tune of their visitors only so long as they are rich and prosperous. The prostitutes discard and throw their customers in latrines or rubbish,the moment their wealth is exhausted. So, be careful ! let not this evil habit enslave you. Please keep your self far far away from the evil company of prostitutes as it is bound to cause your downfall.

Maxims / Aphorisms
1. Prostitution is a great social crime. It makes one subjected to social condemnation.

2. Prostitution is the first information report (F.l.R.) of the moral deterioration of a man.

3. Prostitution brings public condemnation and loss of good will and reputation.

4. Prostitution is untouchable.

5. Prostitution leads one to the main gateway of hell.

6. Prostitution means and includes the loss of character and is the process of erosion of honour and prestigue.

7. Prostitution is the first stage of disgust / Jugupsa.

8. Prostitution is the foundation stone of the destruction of good conduct.

9. Indulgence in prostitution causes one to violate the social decorum and disregard the propriety of good conduct.

10. Prostitution is the main source of unrest.

11. Indulgence in prostitution invites crisis.

12. It was because of prostitution that Charudatta was thrown on human excreta.

13. The evil habit of prostitution destroys all good things which belong to a man.

14. This evil habit makes one pauper and forces him to loiter and to become unsteady.

15. Here one act of prostitution pricks as a thorn, throughout one’s whole life. It repeatedly causes pain.

16. One, addicted to prostitution always remains fearful.

17. Prostitution makes a man a great her as he has to tell hundreds of lies in order to conceal one evil-habit.

18. He who indulges in prostitution is devoid of shame and a person, shameless for his bad charecter is no where respected by'any one.

19. He, who indulges in prostitution can not truly worship God and observe good conduct, as his mind is always engaged in worshipping the prostitute and the thought of the immoral act only.

20. Bad charactered, immoral wives are blots on their families; they are the symbols of the ruination of their families; they snatch out good-conduct and prosperity of their lovers; they are the stair cases of hells. He who does not have any contact with such women is blessed; one should give up the company of prostitutes. People who wish to be honest ,and moraly good should take the vow of remaining faithful to their wives.

The rule “One Man- One Wife” be followed. Men who have learnt the principles of Dharma and practise virtuous conduct will never stoop to embrace a harlet. - Acharya Kunthakuntha - Thirukkural 914 Know Your Enemies