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Thirty-fifth Year of Ascetic Life (B. C 534-533). 1. Sudarsana Sétha 2. Ananda Śrāvaka
1
Sudarsana Śétha
Soon after the close of the rainy season, Śramaṇa Bhagavāna Mahāvira left Nālandā. Preaching the religion of the Jinéśvaras, at various towns and villages, Śramaņa Bhagavāna Mahāvîra came to Vāņijya-grāma.
Vāņijya-grāma, at that time, was a very flourishing town on the bank of river Gandaki. There were numerous merchantile firms and godowns of various merchants there. There were many Jaina wealthy merchants. Sudarśana Śètha was one of them.
The news of the arrival of Śramaņa Bhagavana Mahāvîra at Dyutipalâsa Caitya, rapidly spread in Vâpijya-grāma. Large crowds of people went. Thousands assembled there for darśana and religious sermon. After hearing the preaching, the townspeople went home.
When the assembly dispersed, Suderśana Srèsthi asked a number of questions to Sramaņa Bhagavana Mahavira for explanation about Kala (time) viz. (1) How many varieties of Kāla are there? What are the kinds of Pramāṇa-Kāla ? 3. What is the nature of (a) Pramâna-Kala (b) Yatha-Yuska-nirvritti Kâla. (c) Maraṇa-Kala and (d) Addhā-Kala? (4) Where is the necessity of Palyopama, as well as, Sagaropama Kala? 5. Is there an end to Palyopama Kala and Sagaropama-Kala? etc. Śramaņa Bhagavana Mahavira gave detailed explanations of these questions.
Śramana Bhagavâna Mahavira, then giving an account of the previous life, of Sudarsana Sétha said:-Sudarsana! During your last but the previous bhava (worldly existence), your soul was a royal prince named Mahabala. Mahabala renounced householder's life, and he took Bhagavati Diksā. After having led ascetic life for a long time, at the end of his life, he was born
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