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APRIL, 1967
185
up, O white lotus, best of Nymphaeas !” And the white lotus, the best of Nymphaeas, flew up.
The venerable ascetic Mahavira addressed the crowd of nirgrantha monks and nuns, and spoke thus :
'O long-lived framaņas, meaning the world I spoke of the lotus-pool. Meaning karman I spoke of the water. Meaning pleasures and amusements I spoke of the mud. Meaning people in general I spoke of those many white lotuses. Meaning the king I spoke of one big white lotus, the best of Nymphaeas. Meaning heretical teachers I spoke of those four men. Meaning the Law I spoke of the monk. Meaning the dharmatirtha I spoke of the bank. Meaning the preaching of the Law I spoke of the monk's voice. Meaning niryāņa I spoke of the lotus flying up. Meaning these things, O long-lived śramanas, I told this.
Extracted from Jaina Surras, Part II, published by Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi.
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