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The Story of Dhannya
vows, at the feet of the Tirthankara, lord,
""
answered: "If you take we also will do the same.
To the delight of the people Veera Jina came there. His arrival was duly announced to Dhannya by his men. Dhannya was delighted, entered a shivia ( a sort of palanquin) with great pomp and, accompanied by his three wives, set out to salute the Lord. Now Shalibhadra also having adorned himself with jewels, like a god, went forth to take vows. Both these parties left their conveyances and, bowing to the Jina as they entered, took their seats and listened to the following religious discourse:
"In this unfathomable samsara one who obtains the human birth with difficulty and who never practises religion, but is always thirsty for sensual pleasures, such a one is like a man who, in a deep ocean, gives up his strong boat and tries to obtain a stone. He is a King of fools." Hearing this, Shalibhadra tore his hair, and took orders. along with his eight wives.
Dhannya, now dissatisfied with the world, spoke thus to his wives: "I will make this human life fruitful by taking orders. " Somashri said: "Dear, I was only joking when I said: If you think these vows are not difficult, why do you not take them? You took this in earnest, and are now going to take orders: Does it become one to carry out literally what was only a jest?" Dhannya said: "It is not that I am taking orders only through your remarks, but I have really come to know the truth about this world through the teaching of the Lord. Thus I have made up my mind to forsake the world and become an ascetic." His three wives said: "If this is your resolution, we also will do the same.
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So Dhannya and his three wives took orders. Both new monks studied the Sutras from Sthaviras. The Noble Lord gave the three wives into the charge of Arya Chandana. They observed very difficult rules and were on the way to Siddhi (Success). They practised severe penance for a long time, and kept various kinds of fasts. The monk Shalibhadra and Dhannya became gods in the Savattha-sarvarthasiddha (one of the air-mansions).
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