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31
Bhagavân Mahavira addressing him with sweet words, said
0 child! You had an evil meditation at night, but that is not considerate. You have suffered innumerable agonies of hellish regions for many sāgaropams in your previous lives. What is this trifling inconvenience in comparieon to those agonies? Who but a fool would accept servitude leaving aside the prosperity of a cakravartin ? Who will be foolish enough to take a piece of stone instead of a Cintāmaņi Ratra fala forza a gem of magical power supposed to yield to its POESeseor every thing wanted ! O Mégha ! if one can safely get through the agonies of hell, how can he not safely get through the minor troubles of human life? Is it advisable for a wise man to leave aside Cáritra Dharma aftur-the vows of an ascetic-for an insignificant comfort ! It is better to die than to abandon the vows taken. Physical suffering in the observation of Căritra Dharma anfast the duties of an ascetic is rewarded with Right Knowledge, and therefore, it is very beneficial Besides, you had suffered much bodily suffering in your previous lives while doing virtuous actions, and hence you are enjoying the wealth of a very wide kingdom. Now hear the account of your previous life.
During your third previous life, you were a large white elephant with six tusks, named Sunéruprabha gÀCTH in the region of Mount Vaitādhya walcz and the lord of one thousand semale elephants. One day, a severe fire cccurred in the forest. Fearing danger, you began to run away. While runnirg away, you became very thirsty and happened to coine to a small lake full of mud. Not knowing a better path to enter the lake, you became immersed in the mud, You were far from dry land and also could not each water in the mean time, an elephant who had previous animosity towards you came there and wounded you with blows with his tasks. Having suffered unbearable pain for seven days, you died, having completed an age-liinit of one hundred and twenty years.
After your death, you were again born as a red elephant with four tusks in the region of Mount Vindbyācala fàxo
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