________________ NOTES St. 1. afegira998 (Sk. arftarfgangun), The Nine Dignities or * Padas' constituting the three 'Tattyas' or groups of fundamental Dignities viz. (1) 27 (2) 14778 and (3) - aty which aro very essential and indispensable factors in Jainism, a firm faith in which enables a man to obtain what is known as Arria' or True Faith-which is a true path to Liberation, Hence they occupy an unique place in Jaivism, and their importance is the greatest of all, as they constitute the very essence of the Jaina Religion. The reverend author of this book Ratnas'ekha rasuri himself emphasizes, in striking words, the great importance of these Nine Dignities or Padas, upon which he has based , his wbole story, his object being to create in our hearts a true and firm faith in these Nine Dignities in order to enable us to reach the true path to Liberation and thus cross the occan of this miserable worldly life. First be enumerates them in yerse 23 of the text thus : __ " भरिहंसिवायरिया, उन्माया माहुणों असम्मत्तं / नाणं परमं च तत्रो, इन पयनवगं मुणेग्रव्वं / " and then he remarks in verse 33 1. 1. " gyre
