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- CHAPTER NINE and inauspicious when others sneezed ?” The Blessed One explained: “Why do you stay in existence even today? Seek emancipation quickly,' he said to me in the word, ‘Die.' He said “Live,' to you, since you are happy while living. When you are dead, O man-lion, you will have an existence in hell. He said to Abhaya, “ Live or die,' because he practices dharma while he lives and will be in the palace Anuttara after he dies. He said, “Do not live and do not die,' to the butcher Kāla because he is devoted to evil while living and will go to the seventh hell after death."
Śreņika's future (139–165)
After hearing this, Śreņika bowed to the Blessed One and asked, “How shall I have an existence in hell, Lord of the World, when you are Lord?” The Blessed One said: “In the past, king, you acquired age (-karma) in hell because of which you will go there necessarily. The fruit of good and bad karmas acquired in the past must be consumed. Even we are not able to make it otherwise. You will be the first, named Padmanabha, of the future twenty-four Jinas, king, so do not grieve.”
Sreņika said, “ Is there any means by which I can escape hell, like a blind man a hidden well? ”
The Blessed One replied: “If you make the Brāhmaṇi Kapilā give alms cheerfully with devotion to sādhus; if you make the butcher Kāla give up killing, then there would be release from hell, not otherwise, king.”
Duly carrying the admonition to this effect in his heart, like a necklace on his heart, he bowed to Sri Mahāvīra, and went to his own house.
Just then in order to test him Dardurānka showed him a sädhu committing a sin as a fisherman. After seeing him, having restrained him from sin gently, saying, “ May there be no stain on the teaching,” the king went to his own house. The god showed him a sadhvi who was pregnant. Devoted
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