The Story of Pundarik and Kundarik

Kundarik was a king, and Pundarik was his younger brother. Influenced by a Jain Acharya, King Kundarik renounced his throne, handed the kingdom to Pundarik, and became a monk. Pundarik also wanted to become a monk, but accepted the kingdom out of duty.

Monk Kundarik performed incredibly difficult fasts and lived in the forest. However, a famine struck, and the monks suffered greatly. Kundarik's health deteriorated, and more importantly, his mind became weak. He began to deeply miss the soft beds and rich food of the palace.

Unable to control his cravings, Kundarik left the monastic order and returned to the palace. King Pundarik was heartbroken to see his brother fall from grace. He welcomed Kundarik, gave him the royal clothes and rich food he craved, and secretly left the palace to take the monk's vows himself.

Kundarik, after years of starvation, overate the rich, heavy royal food. His weakened digestive system could not handle it, and he suffered a painful death that very night. Because he died with a mind full of lust and greed for worldly pleasures, he was reborn in a hellish realm.

Meanwhile, Pundarik, who had ruled a kingdom for years but always remained detached and pure in his mind, became a monk. On his very first night of fasting in the forest, he meditated with such pure intensity and complete detachment that he attained omniscience and liberation.

This story illustrates the Jain principle of 'Bhav' (internal state of mind). Outward physical austerities are useless if the mind is corrupt, while a pure mind can achieve liberation instantly.