पोथी पढ़ पंडित भया

Summary

The text describes the life and societal contributions of Bhagwan Rishabh, the first Tirthankara of the current era. He was the son of King Nabhi, the last Kulkar. As the Yaugalik era ended and the Kalpavriksha trees could no longer fulfill needs, Rishabh took on the task of reforming society. His first challenge was food. He developed agriculture and taught people to make clay pots for cooking. To clean grain, he instructed them to have oxen walk on it, but the hungry oxen ate the grain. Rishabh ordered muzzles for the oxen, which were removed after twelve hours. A later belief holds that this twelve-hour interval led to Rishabh experiencing a twelve-year period without food. He also established the institution of marriage, had two queens, and fathered one hundred sons and two daughters. After organizing society, Rishabh turned to spirituality. He left home, became silent, and wandered. To demonstrate that one can live without food, he undertook a long fast, believed to be one year. After completing his fast, he began to beg for food, but people did not understand the practice. They offered him elephants, gold, and even maidens. He eventually reached Hastinapur, where his great-grandson Shreyans recognized him. Shreyans, having had a dream, understood Rishabh needed food. He offered him sugarcane juice (Ikshuras), as no other food was ready. Rishabh accepted, breaking his year-long fast. This event occurred on Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya, which Rishabh made immortal, establishing the festival of Akshaya Tritiya. The text concludes that the path shown by great men like Rishabh becomes the path for all, and his tradition of austerity continues today.