Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
Study of the Twelfth Anga by Sthulabhadra Muni from Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami
Yoga Shastra Third Light Verse 131 Then Sthulabhadra said - Bhagavan! I do not have any anxiety; but the recitation is very little. Acharya Shri said | Now my meditation practice is about to be completed. As soon as it is completed, I will be able to give you recitation as you wish. Meditation
The Acharya Shri started giving Sthulabhadra recitation as per his wish. Almost ten years ago, the study of two Vasts had been completed, after which Shri Bhadrabahu Swami went to Pataliputra and stayed in the garden outside the city. At that time, Sthulabhadra's seven sisters (Sadhvis) who were wandering from village to village also arrived in the same city. When they heard the arrival of Acharya Shri, they came there to pay their respects. After paying their respects to the Guru Maharaj, they asked - Bhagavan! Where is Sthulabhadra Muni? Acharya Shri said - He is on the upper floor of this house. The sisters went to the upper floor to pay their respects to their brother (Sadhu), at that time, seeing the sisters coming, Sthulabhadra Muni took the form of a lion to show some wonder (miracle). Seeing the form of a lion instead of their brother, all the Sadhvis were immediately frightened and ran back and requested the Guru Maharaj - Gurudev! It seems that the elder brother has been eaten by a lion; because there is only a lion sitting there. Acharya Shriji saw in his knowledge and knowing, ordered - Go there and pay your respects to your elder brother. He is there, there is no lion there. So the Sadhvis went back, then they were in their real form. The Sadhvis paid their respects to Sthulabhadra Muni and told their story - Muni! When Shriyak renounced and took initiation, we also took initiation. But he was so hungry every day that he was not able to do even one Ekasan for a single day. During Paryushana, the Sanvatsari Mahaparva came, so I, being the elder sister, said to Shriyak Muni - Brother! Today is the day of the Mahaparva. Therefore, instead of Naukarsi, do Porsi's Pacchakkhan. At my request, he did the same Pacchakkhan. After the Pacchakkhan was completed, I said - Brother! Stay a little longer. And while doing the Dharma Yatra of Chaitya Paripati, you will see Bhagavad, in the meantime, Purimaddha Pacchakkhan will come. He also accepted this. Thereafter, he was asked to do Avadva-Pacchakkhan till the third watch; he also completed it. Then again | I said - Now, after a while, the time for Pratikraman will come; then it will be night. It can be spent comfortably by sleeping. Therefore, now take the Pacchakkhan of fasting. At my insistence, he accepted the Pacchakkhan of fasting. But at night, he was very distressed by hunger, unbearable pain arose in his stomach and in the same, remembering Devadhidev, Gurudev and Namaskaramantra, he died. After dying, he reached Devalok. But by doing so, I have committed the sin of Rishihatya. Therefore, I was sad and asked for atonement from the Shraman Sangh. On this, the Sangh said - You had made him do penance with pure intention. You had no intention of killing him at all. Therefore, you do not have to do any atonement for this. Then I said - If the present Tirthankara Bhagwan says this directly, then my mind can be satisfied; | Only then can I get peace. Otherwise, this thorn will not go away from my heart. On this, the entire Sangh did Kayotsarga, | due to whose effect, Shasan Devi appeared and said - Tell me, what work of yours should I do? The Sangh said - Take these Sadhviji to the present Tirthankara Simandhar Swami. The Devi said - For their unimpeded journey, all of you stay in Kaussagg itself. The Sangh also did the same. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Devi took me to Shri Simandhar Swami. There I paid my respects to the Lord. Knowing the purpose of my coming, Bhagwan said - The Sadhvi who has come from Bharat Kshetra is innocent. Thereafter, 'gracing me, he gave me two Chulikas to reassure me.' With the Devi, I returned to my place here. From there, without any doubt, I offered those two Chulikas to Shri Sangh. Taking permission from this Muni Sthulabhadra, they all came to their shelter.
After the Sadhvis left, when Sthulabhadra Muni came to Acharya Shri for recitation, he refused to give recitation and said - Muni! You are unfit for recitation. Sthulabhadra started remembering that from the time of initiation till today, what crime have I committed. Even after much thought, when he could not remember any mistake of his own; then he 1. There is also a mention of being in a cave.
316