________________
55
Sramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvira said "O Gautama ! The soul of the lion whom I killed during my Bhava as Triprishtha Vasudéva has, during this life, become the farmer. You were my charioteer during that Bhava, and you pacified with sweet words, the lion who was burning hot with anger, at death time. From that time on-ward, he became hostile to me and affectionate towards you and therefore, you were sent by me for the purpose of instructing him in religion."
Information about the relation of the soul of śrama na Bhagavān Mabāvīra with the soul of Gañadhara Mahārāja Indrabhūti Gautama, during interevning Bhavas-from his existence as the charioteer of Triprishtha Vasudeva till his appointment as the chief Gañadhara of Sramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra during the latter's twenty-seventh Bhava and about the meritorious deeds he must have done during hisf uture lives, for the attainment of the exalted position of a Gañadhara to a Tirthamkara, is not available.
The association of the soul of śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra with that of the farmer, commenced during his previous sixteenth Bhava.
.. The soul of śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra, during his sixteenth previous Bhava, was born as a son named fara afa Visvabhūti to queen gifruit Dhāriņi of crown-prince Visākbābhūti of King Viśva-nandi of Rājagriha.
When Muni Viśvabhūti, who had accepted aftquá Cáritra Dharma, the duties of an ascetic, and was practising severe austerities, passed on a begging-tour after a continuous fasting of one month, by the place where his cousin Kumāra Viśäkbánandi, who had gone to Mathura on his marriage occasion had encamped with his large number of servants and retinue, he was much harassed by ridicule and taunts by Visakhanandi and his servants, on the emaciated condition of his body caused by continuous fasting and sever austerities, when he fell down