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of the nature of a series of bodies external or internal (adhyātmika); and the disembodied state means emancipation which is characterised by the removal of all kinds of body. Likerwise Mandika took such statements as "Sa eșa viguņo vibhur na badhyate' to mean that there is no bondage or emancipation for a soul in worldly existence or in the transmigratory condition. But such passages refer not to the transmigratory soul but to the emancipated soul which has no bondage, etc.. Thus there is no mutual conflict in the Vedic passages about bondage - emancipation (1861-1862).
When Mandika's doubt was thus dispelled by Lord Mahavira, he became a monk along with his 350 pupils and followers (1863).
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