________________
298
The Brahmin's efforts were thus fully recompensated for his hazardous journey. The next day, the portion of the divine cloth was given to a weaver for stitching up the cut edges. On seeing the divine cloth which he had never seen before, the weaver asked the Brāhmin, “O good man ! Where did you get this divine cloth from because such cloths cannot be obtained in any part of the world.” The Brāhmin said “O intelligent man! This portion of the cloth has been given to me by Śramaņa Bhagavān Mabăvira The weaver said “You go and bring the other portion I will no unite the two portions that the whole united cloth will fetch one hundred thousand gold coins as if it were an entire cloth and we shall divide the amount by half among our-selves. The Brāhmin inquired “How can I obtain the other portion of the divine cloth ? The weaver competent in the traditional usage of the divine cloth and of the Jinas, said "When the portion of the divine cloth, coming in close contact with a dry a tree falls down on the ground, you pick it up." With this advice in his mind, the Brāhmin followed śramana Bhagavān Mahāvîra wherever he went, with an eager desire of getting the other half of the divine cloth. We shall later on give an Acco:int of the way in which the Brāhmir obtained the other half of the divine cloth.
One day, when going from one village to another, Śramana Bhagavān Mahāvira happened to walk along tae banks of the river Ganges. On seeing the signs of cakra (discus ), dhvaja (flag), ankusa (goad) etc, in rows of his foot-prints on fine sand and mud, an astrologer well-versed in the reading of signs on human bodies, thought-Some cakravartir. is passing by alone from here. Let me go and render him some service. So that I may be greatly benefited.” With this idea in his mind, the astrologer went in the direction in which śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvira bad gone. On seeing the Bhagavān in an ascetic's attire he said " Ab! I have fruitlessly studied this Science of Signs with great pains That a person ornamented with such auspicious signs becomes an ascetic and undergoes the bodily extertion of rigid vows. With this idea in his mind, the astrologer was ready
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org