________________ 23. Sutra Meaning: I pay homage to all the Siddhas, the enlightened ones who have crossed the ocean of worldly existence, who have attained salvation by following the fourteen stages (Gunasthan) of spiritual development in an orderly fashion and who have reached the summit of the Universe. 1 I pay my respect by bowing down my head to Lord Mahavira, who is the god of gods, to whom gods bow down with folded hands and who is worshipped by Indras 2 Even salutation done perfectly to Vardhaman Mahavira, will carry a man or a woman across the ocean of worldly existence. .. I worship Arishtanemi, the all-knowing monarch, who received the initiation, perfect knowledge (kevala-jnana) and liberation (moksha) on the summit of mount Girnara 4 May twenty-four (four, eight, ten and two) respected Tirthankars, who have been liberated and have attained the Siddha state, grant me the boon of salvation 5 .............. 3
