The kingdom of Magadha, in the state of Bihar, possessed a long and rich history. During Mahävir’s time
it was ruled by King Shrenik of the Shishunäg dynasty. This dynasty ended with the death of Shrenik’s
great grandson Udayi. Magadha then passed into the hands of the Nanda dynasty, where Dhanänand
succeeded nine generations of his family’s rule. This was around 300 BC or about 200 years after Lord
Mahävir’s nirvana.
Dhanänand was far from being a just and noble ruler as he was very greedy. He had heard a legend about
some hidden treasure that belonged to one of his predecessors and was desperate to get his hands on
it. Unfortunately, he had no idea where this treasure was hidden. However, he knew that his old Prime
Minister Shaktäl, who had served his father, had knowledge of the treasure’s whereabouts. Dhanänand
tried everything he could to locate the treasure, but Shaktäl refused to provide any information about the
whereabouts of this treasure. The king then forced him to retire and the administration was entrusted to
the other ministers.
Shaktäl was a wise, knowledgeable, and highly respected person in the kingdom. Many scholars and high
ranking officials admired him and were eager to consult him on important matters. However, they avoided
communicating with him because they feared that the king would not approve of this.
Shaktäl had seven daughters and two sons, Sthulibhadra and Shriyäk. Sthulibhadra was smart, brilliant,
and handsome, but not very ambitious. In Patliputra, the capital city of Magadha, there lived a beautiful
young dancer named Koshä. From a very young age, Sthulibhadra would watch her perform. They fell
in love with each other. His family disapproved of the relationship. However, Sthulibhadra was deeply in
young dancer named Koshä. From a very young age, Sthulibhadra would watch her perform. They fell
in love with each other. His family disapproved of the relationship. However, Sthulibhadra was deeply in
love. He left home at the young age of 18 and started living with Koshä. He was infatuated with Koshä
and abandoned all interest in his career and other family members. King Dhanänand intended to appoint
him to a high position in the court but Sthulibhadra declined the offer. The king therefore appointed his
younger brother, Shriyäk, to the position.
As time passed, things began to look grim for Dhanänand’s reign. The citizens of Magadha witnessed
major political upheavals and turmoil. People felt dissatisfied with the current regime and looked for
the end of the Nanda dynasty. King Dhanänand felt insecure and was suspicious of all his ministers and
advisors including Shriyäk and his father Shaktäl. Shaktäl also knew that the king was very suspicious of
him. Hence, he was worried about the political future of his younger son.
Shaktäl decided to sacrifice his life in order to provide proof of Shriyäk’s loyalty to the king. He requested
his son, Shriyäk, to kill him in the presence of the king and other ministers. This way the king would
have proof that Shriyäk was a very loyal minister. He explained to Shriyäk, that prior to the execution he
would swallow some poison. This way Shriyäk would not truly (morally and religiously) be responsible
for his father’s death. And the king would feel that Shriyäk was very loyal to him because he killed his
own father. Thus, Shaktäl arranged to die at the hands of his own son in order to prove his son’s loyalty.
When Sthulibhadra learned about that tragic event, he was taken aback. By that time, he had spent 12
years with Koshä and had never cared for anyone else. His father’s death was an eye opener. He started
reflecting on his past. “Twelve long years of my youthful life! What did I get during this long period?”
He realized that he had not acquired anything that would endure. The tragic end of his father brought
home the reality that all life comes to an end. “Is there no way to escape death?” He asked himself, “What
is the nature of life after all? Who am I and what is my mission in life?”
Delving deep into these questions, he realized that the body and all worldly aspects are transitory, and
physical pleasures do not lead to lasting happiness. He looked at his image in the mirror and noticed
the unmistakable marks of a lustful life. He also realized that he was wasting his youth. He decided to
search for lasting happiness. He left Koshä and went straight to Ächärya Sambhutivijay who was the
sixth successor to Lord Mahävir. Surrendering himself to the Ächärya, he said that he was sick of his
lustful lifestyle and wanted to do something worthwhile with his life. Here was a young man of thirty who
seemed to have lost the vigor of youth. The lustful life he had led had taken a toll on his body; but the
brightness inherited from his illustrious father still glowed on his face. Seeing Sthulibhadra’s determined
and humble state, the learned Ächärya saw in him a great future for the religious order and accepted him
as his pupil.
Sthulibhadra did not lose much time to adjust to the new pattern of his life. The ambition that he had
missed in his youth emerged in the man. He was keen to make up for lost years and devoted all his energy
to spiritual upliftment. He worked diligently and in no time gained the confidence of his guru. His life
as a monk was exemplary. He had successfully overcome his senses of attachment and lustfulness, and
gained control over his inner enemies. It was time for his faith to be tested.
The monsoon season was approaching and the monks had to settle in one place during the rainy season.
Sthulibhadra and three other monks (Sädhus) who had attained a high level of equanimity wanted to
test their faith and determination by spending the monsoon time (4 months as per Indian climate) under
the most adverse conditions. Each one chose the most adverse conditions for themselves. One of them
requested permission from his Ächärya to stay at the entrance of a lion’s den; another wanted to spend
the time near a snake’s hole; the third wanted to spend the 4 months on top of an open well. The Ächärya
knew that they were capable of withstanding these hardships and permitted them. Sthulibhadra humbly
requested that he would like to spend the monsoon in the picture gallery of the residence of Koshä.
The Ächärya knew how difficult this test would be for Sthulibhadra. However, the Ächärya also knew
Sthulibhadra’s determination and felt that spiritually he would not progress any further without passing
this test. Therefore, he permitted Sthulibhadra to spend the monsoon at Koshä’s house.
Sthulibhadra approached Koshä and asked her permission to stay in the picture gallery during the monsoon
season. Koshä was surprised to see him. He had left her in such an ambivalent state that she had not been
sure if she would ever see him again. She was missing him and was happy to see him again. However
she did not know the true purpose of his return. They both had their goals for the monsoon season. Koshä
endeavored to win him back into her life. She used all her seductive skills and felt that having him live in
her picture gallery was to her advantage. Sthulibhadra’s goal was to overcome the strong temptation of
Koshä’s beauty. Who would win? Sthulibhadra’s strong faith and determination served him well during
this test. He focused his mind on spiritual meditation. He spent his time meditating on the transitory
nature of life and the need to break away from the cycle of birth and death. Ultimately, Koshä realized
the wastefulness of her life and became his disciple. Sthulibhadra emerged spiritually stronger from this
experience.
At the end of the monsoon, all the monks returned and described their experience. The first three monks
described their success and they were congratulated. When Sthulibhadra reported the success of his test,
the Ächärya rose from his seat in all praise and hailed Sthulibhadra for performing a formidable task.
The other monks became jealous. Why was Sthulibhadra’s feat so much more impressive than theirs?
After all, they had endured physical hardships while he had spent the monsoon in comfort and security.
The Ächärya explained that it was an impossible feat for anyone else. The first monk boasted that he
could easily accomplish the same task the following monsoon. The Ächärya tried to dissuade him from
his intent because it was beyond his capability. The monk wanting to prove his spiritual strength to the
Ächärya, persisted and was reluctantly given permission for the next monsoon season.
The next monsoon the monk went to Koshä’s place. The immodest pictures in the gallery were enough
to excite him. When he saw glamorous Koshä, his remaining resistance melted away and he begged for
her love. After seeing the pious life of Sthulibhadra, Koshä had learned the value of an ascetic life. In
order to teach the monk a lesson, she agreed to love him only if he gave her a diamond-studded garment
from Nepal, a town 250 miles north of Patliputra. The monk was so infatuated that he left immediately
for Nepal, forgetting that monks were not supposed to travel during the monsoon. With considerable
difficulty, he procured the garment and returned to Patliputra confident of receiving Koshä’s love. Koshä
accepted the beautiful garment, wiped her feet on it and threw it away in the trash. He was stunned. He
asked her, “Are you crazy, Koshä? Why are you throwing away the precious gift that I have brought for
you with so much difficulty?” Koshä replied, ‘Why are you throwing away the precious life of monkhood
that you have acquired with so much effort?’ The humbled monk realized his foolishness and returned to
his Ächärya to report on his miserable failure. There was immense respect for Sthulibhadra from that day
onwards