From the Jwatri Khanda royal garden Mahavir reached Kumargram. He no more cared for his food, living or sleep. On the last initiation day he had kept fast. The next day he could not remember that he needed to eat or he would not care.
He went without food for two days yet it did not trouble him. He did not look hungry.
He reached at a spot in the jungle near Kumargram. He stopped and stood still. He suddenly got in meditative mode. His eyes were fixed on the tip of his nose, the hands went down to knees and he froze.
A cowherd was grazing cattle nearby. He happened to wander to the spot where Mahavir was frozen in meditative pose. Unmindful of what Mahavir was doing the cowherd said to him, “I am going for my lunch. Keep an eye on my cattle.”
Mahavir was withdrawn from the world and did not know what was going on around him. So, he did not respond to the cowherd who went away to eat his noon meal. When he came back there was no sign of his cattle.
He asked to mediating Mahavir, “Brother, where have my cattle gone?”
Mahavir remained frozen in meditation. He said nothing. The cowherd stood there for some time and then set out to look for his cattle. He searched all the places around but failed to find his cattle. At last thoroughly frustrated he returned to the same spot. To his surprise he found that his entire cattle herd was there peacefully grazing around.
The cowherd looked hard at Mahavir. He began to suspect that the sage fellow posing to be in meditation was infact a cattle thief who wanted to steal his herd. That was why the imposter sage was not replying to my questions, he thought.
The thought angered the cowherd. To teach the imposter a lesson he ran at meditating Mahavir to land a few lathi blows on him.
Just then the sound of galloping horses made him stop in his tracks. He turned back and saw King Nandivardhan arrive there. The king had come to see what his younger brother was doing because someone had informed him that the former prince was seen going to that forest. The king had clearly seen that the cowherd was racing at Mahavir with evil intention. He had his stick raised is attacking manner.
Nandivardhan thundered, “Cowherd! What were you going to do?”
The cowherd was now a scared person. He revealed the truth and his suspicion.
The king said, “Brainless cowherd! This sage was a prince who gave up all his royal treasures to become an ascetic. Why would he covet your miserable cows and bulls?”
The cowherd now realised his mistake and begged for the forgiveness of the king.
The king said, “Don’t apologize to me. Ask for the forgiveness of the person whom you have offended by trying to attack him.”
Just then, Mahavir came out of the meditative trance. He was surprised to find his king brother of yesterday standing there infront of him. He asked, “King! What brings you here?”
“Sage! I was passing by. I saw this cowherd trying to land lathi blow on you mistaking you for a cattle thief,” Nandivardhan revealed.
“Oh sage!” the cowherd folded his hands and begged, “Please pardon me. I was going to do a most stupid thing with you. I am very sorry, your holiness.”
Mahavir raised his hand saying, “You have done no crime wilfully, cowherd boy. Forget this incident and go to attend to your work.”
The cowherd was amazed at the easy forgive- fullness of Mahavir. He bowed to him in obeisance and departed.
King Nandivardhan said, “Holyman! You lapse into meditative mode losing touch with outside realities. You expose yourself to physical harm like the present one. If you permit me I will leave some soldiers to guard you.”
“No king,” Mahavir raised his hand. “I am seeker of liberty, physical and spiritual. I don’t want any body guard to limit my freedom. I won’t accept to make progress with the help of others. I must go ahead on my own strength and will power. No clutches for me.”
That left the king speechless.
He paid obeisance to Mahavir and returned to the capital with his soldiers.
