________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuni Gyanmandir
art of public debate. Somila Brahmana was very happy. And when he noticed gods arriving in ther celestial vehicles his joy knew no bounds. But when he found that the vehicles, instead of landing near the sacrificial enclosure, went past it, he and Indrabhuti were deeply perplexed.
Indrabhuti Gautama asked Somila, "O Noble One, what is this ? What are the celestial vehicles heading for, having crossed our sacrificial site. Is anybody else visitng this city ?"
Arya Somila said, "Prince Vardhamana of a warrior class, who renounced the world thirteen years ago, has come to this city. He leads a pure ascetic life. He practices severe austerities. He has attained a very exalted spiritual state, supernatural knowledge and yogic powers. Even the gods worship him with devotion."
The great pundit Indrabhuti felt deeply humiliated. He thought, "Who is Mahavira compared to a
grear pundit like me? I am an expert in all sciences. Sure, he might have secured magical power through the practice of austerities. But so what? His magical illusion will last only so long as ignorance prevails. In the bright light of my kr.owledge it will surely disappear."
Ann
Sacrificial alter and
tuo Brahmins
113
For Private And Personal Use Only
