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PART IV STORIES DURING BHAGAWAN MAHÄVIR
the other monks. Monks have to recite the Iriyävahiyam Sutra after returning to their place from outside. Therefore, Bälmuni also recited this sutra. Thereafter he thoroughly studied the 11 Anga Ägams. One day, at the age of thirteen, he was reciting the Iriyävahiyam Sutra. When he came to the part:
If I have hurt any living beings of water, green grass, and clay, I am asking for forgiveness.
He remembered the sin he had committed while playing with the water as a monk many years earlier. His repentance had no bounds. He was extremely sorry for what he had done. He began thinking, "What did I do? I have hurt so many living beings just for fun. How can I be free of these sins? Oh living beings, I have caused harm
Due to his sincere repentance, Aimuttä Muni destroyed all his destructive karmas and attained
keval-jnän
to you. Please forgive me for my sins. I will never commit these sins again." Because of his sincere repentance, all of his bad karmas were destroyed and he attained omniscience, or keval-jnän (infinite knowledge). Now he became a kevali monk at the age of thirteen.
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