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JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXI, No. 1. July 1996
who has just taken the life of mendicacy after abdicating his kingship of Mithila. The conversation goes as follows:
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With the fair ladies of his harem King Nami enjoyed pleasure like those of heaven.
And then he saw the light and gave up pleasure...
In Mithila, when the royal sage Nami left the world
And took to the life of a monk, there was a great uproar.
To the royal sage came the god Indra, disguised as a brahman, And spoke these words:
....
Indra said:
"Build a wall, with gates and turrets,
And a moat and siege-engines: then you will be a true warrior."
Nami replied:
"With faith as his city, hardship and self-control the bolt of the gate,
Patience its strong wall, impregnable in three ways
[i.e.. by means of the three 'defenses'--self-control in thought, word, and deed]
With effort as his bow, circumspection in walking its string,
And endurance as its tip, with truth he should bend his bow, And pierce with the arrow of penance the mail of his enemy, karma. Thus the sage will conquer in battle, and be free [from samsāra]!"
Indra said:
"By punishing thieves and burglars, pickpockets and robbers, Keep the city in safety; then you will be a true warrior."
Nami replied:
"Often men punish unjustly,
And the guiltless are put in prison, the guilty set free."
Indra said:
"Bring under our yoke, o lord of men, those kings
who do not bow before you; then you will be a true warrior."
Nami replied:
"Though a man conquer a thousand brave foes in battle, If he conquers only himself, this is his greatest conquest. Battle with yourself! of what use is fighting others? He who conquers himself by himself will win happiness.'...
Throwing off his disguise, and taking his real shape, Indra bowed before him and praised him with sweet words:
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| SR No. | 520123 |
| Book Title | Jain Journal 1996 07 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Jain Bhawan Publication |
| Publisher | Jain Bhawan Publication |
| Publication Year | 1996 |
| Total Pages | 58 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India |
| File Size | 4 MB |