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Once upon a time, during the reign of King Shrenik of the Shishunag dynasty, a hidden treasure belonging to his predecessors intrigued the last king of the Nand dynasty, Dhananand. Dhananand's old prime minister, Shaktal, was believed to possess knowledge about the treasure but refused to reveal anything. Consequently, Shaktal was forced to retire, leaving the administration to other ministers. Despite his wisdom, Shaktal's capabilities remained largely unutilized.
Shakta l had two sons, Sthulibhadra and Shriyak, and seven daughters. Sthulibhadra was a charming and intelligent young man, but he became infatuated with a city dancer named Kosha. Consumed by love, he left his family and chose to live with Kosha, ignoring his responsibilities and ambitions. Meanwhile, the political situation in Patliputra grew tumultuous, with dissatisfaction among the people and a desire for the end of the Nand dynasty.
Dhananand, suspicious of everyone, including his own brother Shriyak, plotted against him. Shaktäl, fearing for his son's future, decided to prove Shriyak's loyalty by sacrificing himself. Learning of his father's tragic death, Sthulibhadra realized the fleeting nature of life and the emptiness of his own pursuits. He questioned the purpose of life, the inevitability of death, and his own identity.
Deep in contemplation, Sthulibhadra recognized the impermanence of the physical world and the fleeting happiness derived from material pleasures. He looked at himself in the mirror, noting the marks of his lustful life, and realized he had wasted his youth. Determined to find lasting happiness, he left Kosha and sought solace with Ächärya Sambhutivijay, a Jain spiritual leader and the fifth successor to Lord Mahavir.
Sthulibhadra, seeking a meaningful life, surrendered himself to Ächärya and renounced his previous attachments. Impressed by his sincerity, Ächärya accepted him as his pupil. Sthulibhadra quickly adapted to his new life and devoted himself to spiritual upliftment, earning the trust and respect of his preceptor. When Ächärya Sambhutivijay passed away, Bhadrabahuswami became the head of the religious order, and Sthulibhadra continued his studies diligently.
One monsoon, Sthulibhadra and three fellow monks, who had also achieved equanimity, decided to test their detachment under difficult conditions. The other monks chose dangerous environments like lion dens, snake holes, and open wells. Sthulibhadra, however, requested to spend the monsoon in Kosha's picture gallery, a seductive and comfortable place. Ächärya, confident in Sthulibhadra's steadfastness, granted his request.
Sthulibhadra returned to Kosha's palace, requesting to stay in the picture gallery. Despite her attempts to win him back, Sthulibhadra remained resolute and unswayed by attachment. He successfully passed the monsoon, maintaining his detachment amidst temptation. Impressed by his feat, Ächärya praised Sthulibhadra's unparalleled achievement, recognizing the difficulty of his situation compared to the other monks.
Another monk, driven by his ego, insisted on attempting the same feat in the following monsoon. However, he fell prey to his desires, failed the test, and returned empty-handed. Sthulibhadra's leadership among the monks was solidified, and he continued his studies, mastering various.
