Atmanushasana

Author(s): J L Jaini
Publisher: Central Jaina Publishing House

Page 66

ATMANUSHASANA.
चक्रं विहाय निजदक्षिणबाहुसंस्थं यत्प्राव्रजन्ननु तदैव स तेन मुक्तः। क्लेशं तमाप किल बाहुबली चिराय मानो मनागपि हर्ति महतीं करोति ॥ २१७॥
217. Leaving the boomerang (Chakra) which had alighted on his right arm, Bahubali became an ascetic, and then only did he attain Liberation. Even he suffered long (before attaining omniscience, as he had a tinge of pride in him). Even slight pride does great harm
Commentary. Bahu-bali .was the younger son of Rishabha Deva, the first Tirthankara, while Bharata was the eldest. Bharata having been worsted in a trial of strength with him, hurled at him the Chakra, which instead of harming him, alighted on his right arm. Bahu-bali was however sorry for having dishonoured his elder brother Bharata, and considering all worldly ambition as frivolous, he renounced all temporal possessions, and adopted asceticism, to obtain omniscience. He continued to observe meditation for one whole year, at a stretch, but did not obtain omniscience, because there was left in him a tinge of pride that although he had relinquished all, he was still standing on the ground owned by Bharata. When Bharata having been told of this, at the Samavasarnam of Shri Rishabha Deva, went and bowed to him, and told him that earth belonged to nobody, the pride was gone, and Bahu-bali immediately attained omniscience.
सत्यं वाचि मतौ श्रुतं हृदि दया शौर्य भुजे विक्रमो लक्ष्मी नमनूनमार्थनिचये मार्गे गतिनिवृते । येषां प्रागजनीह तेऽपि निरहङ्काराः श्रुतेर्गोचराश्चित्रं संप्रति लेशतोऽपि न गुणास्तेषां तथाप्युद्धताः॥२१८ ॥
218. Formerly, on this earth were born persons, who had truth in (their) word, knowledge of the scriptures in their intellect, compassion in their heart, bravery and fortitude in the arm, wealth for large charity to needy persons, and who trod in the path free from worldly attach
ments, Even such (great persons) have been described in the scriptures to have been free from pride. It is a great