King Nami's Renunciation

King Nami was a powerful ruler of Mithila. Once, he suffered from a terrible, burning fever that no doctor could cure. The queens sat beside him, grinding sandalwood on stones to make a cooling paste. The clinking of their many gold bangles gave the king a severe headache.

He ordered them to remove all bangles except one symbol of marriage. When the noise stopped, he reflected: 'When many bangles clash, there is noise and conflict. When there is only one, there is perfect peace. Like these bangles, interacting with the world causes stress, while solitude brings peace.'

Upon recovering, this deep realization (Vairagya) prompted King Nami to renounce his throne, leave his family, and become a Jain monk (Rajrishi).

To test his detachment, Indra, the king of gods, came down disguised as an old Brahmin. He approached Nami in the forest and cried, 'O King! Why are you sitting here? Look back! Your beautiful city of Mithila is on fire! Your palaces and wealth are turning to ashes!'

Monk Nami remained completely calm and delivered a famous reply: 'Happy are we, happy live we, who call nothing our own. When Mithila is on fire, nothing of mine is burning.'

Indra tried to tempt him with duty, power, and wealth, but Nami rebuffed every argument with profound spiritual wisdom. Satisfied, Indra revealed his true form, bowed to the great sage, and returned to heaven.