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The third light of the Yoga Shastra, verse 131, did not move from the presence of the great sage, Shthulbhadra Muni, and the other sadhus, to the presence of Shri Bhadrabahu Swami. Just as even a man with a heart as hard as metal melts in the presence of fire, so too do we see Shthulbhadra Muni as being made of vajra (diamond). After describing the great, powerful, and difficult-to-achieve deeds of Shri Shthulbhadra Muni, my mouth does not open to describe another. It is necessary to put a lock on it. Hearing this, the charioteer asked the Kośa, "Who is this great, jewel-crowned Shthulbhadra, whose praise you are singing so highly?" She replied, "The one whose character I have described to you is Shthulbhadra, the son of Shakatal, the minister of King Nanda." Hearing this, the charioteer, with a look of wonder, clasped his hands and said, "Consider me a servant of Shthulbhadra Muni from this day forward." Seeing the charioteer detached from the world, the Kośa gave him knowledge of Dharma, destroying the remaining traces of his slumbering attachment. He was now awakened. Therefore, knowing the opportune moment, the Kośa revealed her own graha (resolve and rules) to him. Hearing this, the charioteer, with eyes wide with wonder, said, "Bhadra! You have awakened me by praising Shthulbhadra Muni. From this day forward, I will walk the path you have shown me. You, with unwavering determination, walk your accepted path with ease and joy. I am leaving now. May you be well." Saying this, the charioteer went directly to the feet of Shthulbhadra Muni and received the Muni-diksha (initiation) from him.
The venerable Muni Shthulbhadra was also spending his time in the worship of severe vows. Suddenly, a terrible famine lasting twelve years struck. At that time, the entire assembly of sadhus went to the seashore. There too, the shadow of the terrible famine, like the night of Kali, fell. Even the sadhus did not have easy access to food and water. Due to this, there was no study of the scriptures, and the repetition of the Shruta-gyan (scriptural knowledge) was not possible. As a result, the knowledge that was memorized was also forgotten. Without practice and repetition, even the memorized Shruta-gyan of the most intelligent people is lost. Therefore, to save the remaining Shruta-gyan from being lost, the Shri-Sangha (assembly of monks) gathered the Shraman-Sangha (assembly of ascetics) in Pataliputra at that time. They collected all the Angas (parts of the Jain scriptures), their study, and their purpose, from those who remembered them. The twelfth Anga, Drishtivad, was not found. While thinking about it, the Sangha remembered that Shri Bhadrabahu Swami was the knower of Drishtivad. They decided to obtain it from him. Therefore, the Sangha sent two sadhus to call him. The two sadhus reached the service of Muni Bhadrabahu. After paying their respects, they humbly requested him, "Bhagavan! The Shri-Sangha has invited you to Pataliputra." He replied, "I have begun the Maha-pran-dhyan (meditation on the great soul), so I cannot go there." With this disappointing answer, the two sadhus returned to the Shraman-Sangha and told them what Bhadrabahu Swami had said. The Shri-Sangha, angered by this, ordered two other sadhus to go and bring him, saying, "Go to the Acharya (leader) and ask him, 'What punishment should be given to one who does not obey the orders of the Shri-Sangha?'" When they say, "He should be expelled from the Sangha," then you both, together, loudly say to the Acharya, "Then, Bhagavan, you are also subject to that punishment!" The two sadhus went there and said the same to the Acharya. Therefore, Acharya Bhadrabahu said, "The Shri-Sangha should not do this to me. But please send intelligent disciples here. I will give them seven recitations daily while staying here. I will give the first recitation upon returning from begging for alms, the second during the time of study, the third upon returning from outside the city, the fourth at the time of Vikal (a specific time of the day), and the remaining three recitations at the necessary times. In this way, I will give seven recitations daily, so that the work of the Sangha will be done well and my sadhana (spiritual practice) will also be accomplished without obstacles." Hearing this, the two sadhus returned to Pataliputra and presented to the Shri-Sangha what Shri Bhadrabahu had said. The Shri-Sangha was pleased and considered themselves fortunate. The Shri-Sangha, after considering this, sent five hundred monks, including Shthulbhadra, to Pataliputra. Bhadrabahu Swami began to give seven recitations daily to the five hundred monks. However, due to the very short recitations, all the other monks, feeling anxious, returned to their respective places. Only Shthulbhadra Muni remained there. One day, Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami asked Shthulbhadra Muni, "Muni! Are you not troubled by the constant recitations?"