SANATKUMAR - THE SOVEREIGN EMPEROR
In very ancient times there was a king named Ashwasen in northern India. His capital
city was Hastinapur. He had a beautiful queen named Sahadevi. When she got pregnant,
she saw fourteen dreams that occur to the mothers of Tirthankars and sovereign emperors.
In due course she gave birth to a very handsome lovable son who was named Sanatkumar.
Every one liked the boy who turned out to be very bold, brave and intelligent. At school,
he quickly mastered all the arts and sciences. He also became expert in use of all types of
weapons. Ashwasen was very glad to learn about the accomplishments of his son and the
people were pleased and felt happy that they had such a bold, handsome and lovable
young prince to succeed the king.
Once in spring season, the prince was happily playing with other princes along with his
bosom friend Mahendrasingh. They decided to have a horse ride. Sanatkumar chose to
ride a horse that was newly presented to him. As soon as he got on the back, the horse
started running. He ran so fast that all other princes and companions were left behind and
in no time the horse disappeared from the scene. The king got very much worried by the
mysterious disappearance of the prince. Anxious to get him back, he went in search but
after going a little distance he lost all the foot prints of the horse on account of gusty wind
and terrible storm and lost the track. Thereupon he entrusted the search to Sanatkumar’s
friend Mahendrasingh and returned to Hastinapur.
Mahendrasingh started the search with a band of selected followers. After going to
various places they entered a dense forest that was infested by wild animals and
poisonous snakes. Even pythons were moving here and there. On account of the risk
involved, his companions left him one after another. Mahendrasingh had however
decided not to return without the prince. He therefore proceeded alone undaunted by the
adversities.
For one full year he traveled far and wide but did not get any trace of the prince. During
the next spring he came across a lovely area full of water springs, fanciful localities and
greenery. There in a garden he saw some lovely maidens singing sweet music. And to
his surprise he noticed that his dear friend was playing there with those heavenly girls.
Sanatkumar also saw Mahendrasingh. He immediately approached and embraced his
friend. Then he asked one of the girls to take him to bath. Mahendrasingh got refreshed
and after taking the meal he came to Sanatkumar who was talking to his favorite girl
Bakula. Mahendrasingh requested him to narrate what had happened after the elopement
of the horse.
Sanatkumar said that he tried hard to stop the horse, but with every effort of mine, he was
increasing his speed. At last I gave up and allowed him to take me wherever he liked. At
last the horse stopped in this lovely land near that lake on your right. Since Bakula knows
what happened after that, let her narrate the rest of it. Thereupon Bakula stated as under:
“One day I was playing in our favorite lake water along with my sisters and other friends.
No male is supposed to come over there. All of a sudden I saw a horse with your friend
on the back. The loveliness of your friend enamored all of us. As soon as he got down,
some devil appeared there, no one knows from where, and attacked him. The devil used
all possible means to kill him, but Sanatkumar was a match for him and knocked down
the devil who had to run away.
Highly impressed by Sanatkumar’s strength, we wished to play with him. So we forcibly
dragged him into water. After playing with him for a long time, we took him to the city
and introduced him to our father Bhanuveg, the king of this heavenly place. He was very
pleased to see your friend and decided to make him son in law. Thus we eight sisters got
married to him.
Once Sanatkumar alone had been far away. He happened to see a seven storied beautiful
building. As he was marveling at the structure, he heard cries of a girl from the top floor.
He went inside and saw that a beautiful girl was lying there crying for help. Sanatkumar
consoled her and inquired about her problem. The girl said that she was Sunanda, the
princess of Vinita. She was engaged to the prince of Hastinapur. She was however
abducted by a heavenly being named Vajraveg who wanted to marry her. Sanatkumar
gave his identification and assured that he would save her from the clutches of Vajraveg.
While they were talking, Vajraveg came there and seeing Sanatkumar he attacked him
with all his might. Sanatkumar however successfully faced him and killed Vajraveg.
Then he married Sunanda.
Vajraveg’s father Ashaniveg got mad at Sanatkumar for killing his son. He came here
with a large army. My father and his colleagues came to help Sanatkumar. There was
fierce battle in which Ashaniveg got killed and his entire fortune was gained by
Sanatkumar. Ashaniveg’s daughter also married Sanatkumar. That way he married many
girls and gained lot of wealth. Since then he has been happily passing the time enjoying
every pleasure of life.
After staying there and enjoying heavenly hospitality, Mahendrasingh once said to
Sanatkumar that his parents were very much worrying on account of his sudden
disappearance. He should therefore better go home. Sanatkumar too felt it worthwhile
and proceeded to Hastinapur along with his wives and large band of followers. After a
few days he reached Hastinapur. Ashwasen was very pleased to see his son once again.
As he heard everything about Sanatkumar’s accomplishments, he decided that it was the
time for him to retire. Accordingly he coronated Sanatkumar as the king of Hastinapur
and renouncing the worldly affairs he became a Muni.
Sanatkumar ruled very well. All the people were pleased with his administration. He
appointed Mahendrasingh as the commander in chief and set upon an expedition. He
gained victory everywhere. Very soon he conquered all the territories and became the
undisputed emperor or Chakravarti of the entire land. He was particularly known every
where for his unparalleled aristocratic appearance. Even the heavenly beings were aware
of his extraordinary attractiveness.
Once Indra, the king of heaven praised the exquisite elegance of Sanatkumar in his
assembly. Two members named Vijay and Vaijavant got skeptical of the praise. They
therefore decided to verify it.
Disguised as Brahmins they came to Hastinapur and asked for permission to see the king.
At that time Sanatkumar was getting ready for taking his bath. He was however
courteous enough to allow them inside. Coming in, they saw that Sanatkumar was
actually more handsome than it was mentioned in the heavenly assembly. They therefore
moved their heads in approval of the praise. As the king asked the purpose of that
gesture, they said that they had heard about his admirable body. They had been there to
verify it and found him more attractive than they had thought. Sanatkumar was proud of
his attractiveness. He got highly flattered by those words. He said that he was still not
properly dressed or adorned. With an air of vanity he suggested that if they really wanted
to see his magnificent attractiveness, they should better come to the court when he sits on
the throne properly dressed and adorned.
After getting ready the king came to the court with all the pomp and decoration and sat on
the majestic throne. There was precious diamond studded crown on his head. Splendors
canopy was hanging over his head and lovely girls were waving fans. He invited those
Brahmins to come inside and look at him. He no doubt looked immensely attractive; but
his inner self was poisoned on account of his vanity about his splendor and poised body.
Those people could make out the difference and moved their heads in disapproval. The
king asked about the reason for that gesture. Then they disclosed their identity and said
that his attractiveness was highly poisoned that time. The king was not willing to believe
that. At their suggestion he therefore spat in a corner. A fly came over it and
immediately died. This was an eye opener for him. He realized that all the wealth and
splendors are short lived and unreliable. He therefore decided to give up every thing.
Soon after he placed his son on the throne and became a possessionless Muni.
As Muni he observed severe austerities. Due to insufficient nourishment he got leprosy,
but he did not care for that. He had gained miraculous accomplishments by his spiritual
pursuit but did not use any of them for curing the disease. This time Indra praised his
sense of total detachment for the body. Once again Vijay and Vaijavant got skeptical.
They came to Sanatkumar in the guise of doctors and suggested that they could cure him
by their expertise. Sanatkumar replied that diseases are of two kinds, internal and
external. He did not care for the external or physical one but was concerned about the
internal disease of Karma that afflicted him since time immemorial. His sole concern
was to get rid of that. If they could cure that disease, he was willing to undergo their
treatment. Since they showed their helplessness in the matter, Sanatkumar applied saliva
on his diseased finger by putting it in the mouth and showed it to them. To their surprise
the finger was cured of the disease. Thereupon they disclosed their identity and heartily
praised Sanatkumar for his true detachment.
Sanatkumar spent many years practicing austerity and penance. When the end was close,
he adopted Anashan (Staying steadfast in the same position without taking food or drink).
In the end he attained heaven.