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226
KALPA SÚTRA.
Now this is something which moves the wonder of the world: it happens in the lapse of numberless Avasarpinis and Utsarpinis, because the imperishable, indescribable, and undestroyable Karman relating to name and gotra must take effect, that Arhats, &c., in the past, present, and future, descend in (i.e. take the form of an embryo in the womb of a woman belonging to) low families, &c.; but they are never brought forth by birth from such a womb. (19) This Venerable Ascetic Mahâvfra, now, in the continent Gambadvipa, in Bharatavarsha, in the brahmanical part of the town Kundagrâma, has taken the form of an embryo in the womb of the Brahmani Devånandâ of the Galandharayana gotra, wife of the Brâhmana Rishabhadatta of the gotra of Kodála. (20) Hence it is the established custom of all past, present, and future Sakras, chiefs and kings of the gods, to cause the Arhats and Bhagavats to be removed from such-like low, mean, &c., families, to such-like high, noble, &c., families. (21) It is, therefore, better that I should cause the Venerable Ascetic Mahavira, the last of the Tirthakaras who was predicted by the former Tirthakaras, to be removed from the brahmanical part of the town Kundagråma, from the womb of the Brahmani Devânandâ of the Galandharayana gotra, wife of the Brâhmana Rishabhadatta of the gotra of Kodála, to the Kshatriya part of the town Kundagrâma, and to be placed as an embryo in the womb of the Kshatriyâni Trisala of the Våsishtha gotra, wife of the Kshatriya Siddhartha of the Kåsyapa gotra, belonging to the clan of the Gñâtri Kshatriyas; and to cause the embryo of the Kshatriyânt Trisala of the Vásishtha gotra to be placed in the
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