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The life stories of Sunanda and Rupsen provide a striking illustration of how the concept of karma operates in unusual ways. Sunanda, having lived as a Sadhvi (a female ascetic), had cultivated the virtue of renunciation. Through her ascetic practices, she had gained the ability of clairvoyance and knowledge of her past lives. One day, Sunanda expressed her desire to offer guidance to a man named Rupsen, who was trapped in the cycle of birth and rebirth due to his infatuation with her. She sought permission from her female spiritual teacher (guruni) to travel to Vidhya Dwip, where she believed she could free Rupsen from this cycle.
With her guru's consent, Sunanda, accompanied by four other sadhvis (female ascetics), arrived at Sugram for a period of rainy residence. It came to Sunanda's attention that Rupsen had been reborn as an elephant, causing havoc and fear among the people. The elephant's mere presence posed a threat as he inadvertently crushed anyone who crossed his path. People would flee at the sight of him, avoiding the outskirts of town due to his terrifying presence.
Undeterred by warnings, Sunanda resolved to deliver her sermon to the elephant. Approaching him with courage, she managed to calm his agitated state. As their eyes met, the elephant seemed to remember their connection from a previous life, and he stood still, no longer a source of danger.
Addressing the elephant, Sunanda admonished him for the long-lasting consequences of his infatuation, which had led to six wasted lifetimes and the potential squandering of a seventh. She recounted his past incarnations, revealing their shared history. She narrated how, in his human life, his attachment to her had led to his demise. In subsequent lives, he had been reborn as various creatures, facing tragic ends due to his unfulfilled desires and fixation on her.
Rupsen's final incarnation as an ascetic-like elephant marked a turning point. Sunanda's revelations led him to meditate deeply, and he passed away in a state of profound contemplation. Through this transformative experience, Rupsen ascended to the divine realm, achieving the status of a god of the eighth lok (plane of existence) and ultimately attaining salvation.
As for Sunanda, her understanding of karma and the consequences of attachment had profound effects on her own journey. With the redemption of her karmas through her ascetic practices and enlightenment, she achieved a state of absolute knowledge and immortal status, transcending the cycle of birth and rebirth.
In the end, the intertwined stories of Sunanda and Rupsen showcase the intricate workings of karma and the potential for spiritual growth and liberation through self-awareness, detachment, and enlightenment.
