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## 92]
[ Antakrid Dasha ]
Arihant Arishtanemi Bhagwan said, "O Krishna! Certainly, all Vasudevas are Nidankrit (those who have made a Nidana) in their previous births. Therefore, I say that it has never happened, does not happen, and will never happen that a Vasudeva will ever accept Pravrajya (renunciation)."
**Explanation:** This Sutra presents a description of some questions asked to Arishtanemi Bhagwan. After hearing about the destruction of Dwarka, Shri Krishna's affection for the ascetics increased, and at the same time, he felt remorse that he himself could not take initiation! To resolve his distress, Bhagwan said, "You are a Vasudeva, and no Vasudeva can ever take initiation in the three times, because they have made a Nidana in the past."
'Nidana' is a technical term in the Jain tradition. When the desire for sensual pleasures arises due to the rise of Mohaniya Karma, a Sadhu, Sadhvi, Shravak, or Shravika resolves in their mind that they will achieve a certain result through their penance. This is called Nidana. In common parlance, it is called Niyana. Nidana is not conducive to welfare. A person who dies after making a Nidana cannot attain Nirvana even after receiving its fruits. He wanders in the world for a very long time. The tenth Dasha of Dasha-Shruta-Skandha mentions nine causes of Nidana. They are as follows:
1. A man makes a Nidana after seeing a prosperous person.
2. A woman makes a Nidana to obtain a good husband.
3. A man makes a Nidana for a beautiful woman.
4. A woman makes a Nidana after seeing a happy and beautiful woman.
5. A being born in the Deva-Gati (heavenly realm) with a divine form makes a Nidana to enjoy himself and other goddesses through a Vaikriya body.
6. A being in the Deva-Bhavana makes a Nidana to enjoy only his own goddess.
7. A being makes a Nidana to become a Shravak in the next birth.
8. A being in the Deva-Bhavana makes a Nidana to enjoy his goddess without Vaikriya.
9. A being makes a Nidana to become a Sadhu in the next birth.
Of these, a being who makes the first four types of Nidana cannot even hear the Dharma preached by the Kevali Bhagwan. A being who makes the fifth Nidana can hear the Dharma but is Durlabha-Bodhi (slow to understand) and wanders in the world for a long time. A being who makes the sixth Nidana, even after hearing and understanding the Jin-Dharma, is interested in other religions. A being who makes the seventh Nidana can attain Samyaktva (right faith), can have faith in Dharma, but cannot accept vows. A being who makes the eighth Nidana can take the vows of a Shravak but cannot become a Sadhu. A being who makes the ninth Nidana can become a Sadhu but cannot attain Moksha in the same birth.