ABSTRACT
According to an early Jaina text, King Śreṇika, the powerful ruler of Magadha during the time of the Jaina savior Mahāvīra, once took a pleasure excursion to a grove where he happened to spy a young Jaina ascetic. Impressed by the ascetic’s youthful appearance, Śreṇika approached him and said: ‘Though you are a young man of good family, O ascetic, you have renounced the world; at a time for the enjoyment of pleasures, you have entered into asceticism – I would like to hear the reason for this.’ 1 Obliging the king, the ascetic explained what had prompted his decision to renounce, and, as a result of their dialogue, the king was converted to Jainism. 2
