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Chapter VII.
Pourth to the Fifteenth Previous Bhava.
Fourth Previous Bhava of Sramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvira.
30. After completing an existence of eighty-four hundred thousand years, without censuring his wicked actions and without making a firm resolve to abstain thenceforward from such wicked deeds, the soul of Marfri was, after death, born as a celestial being with an age-limit of ten Sagaropams in Brahma dève-luka.
Fifth Previous Bhava. On descent from Brahma ddva-loka at the expiry of his existence as a celestial being there, the soul of Marici was born, during the fifth Previous Bhavu of Sramaņa Bhagavãn Mabavira, as a Brāhmaṇa named of Kausika, in a village named yine Kollāga which was inhabited by merchants of various kinds who had come to settle there from distant parts of country, which was a safe residential place for many pious ascetics practising numerous religious observances in surrounding districts, and which was very prominent among all adjoining villages.
Kausika was well-versed in the six religious duties of a Brāhmaṇa, proficient in explaining the various interpretations of the Vedas, and was well-known throughout the country. He was engrossed in worldly pleasures, busy with devising numerous plans for the acquisition of wealth, not the least afraid of under. taking huge concerns involving the destruction of animal life even of five-sensed living beings, and was fond of holding feara Mithyātva, False belief.
During the latter part of his life, he became a forgift Tridaņdi sapnyāsi, An ascetic bearing a triple staff. He died after completing an age-limit of eighty hundred thousand years.
Sixth Previous Bhava. After enduring innumerable miseries as a minor god or as
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