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492
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
to subdue his passion. He thereby had attained distinguished accomplishments.
Some day Nandishena Monk went for begging alms. He saw a white mansion. He entered and uttered 'Dharma Lābha'. The mistress of the house said : "We do not require Dharma (religion), but we require Artha (Money)". The monk was surprised with these words and he took out a straw and golden coins were showered in a moment. The harlot said: "Monk, you cannot return without accepting my gift. Please be kind. If you spurn at me and leave me, I shall commit suicide and you will incur the sin of murdering a woman”. Hearing these words subdued passions of the monk became manifested and the monk made up his mind to stay on at the harlot's place. The authors of the scriptures have properly declared that circumstances very often predominate. We cannot say what kind of consequences are brought about by circumstances.
The monk stayed at the harlot's place but maintained such rule that he would dine only after preaching ten persons. He enlightened ten persons daily and then accepted his food. Here it is worth noting that a visitor of a harlot is mostly a man of weak moral character but still this monk continued preaching religion. These enlightened persons abandoned worldly attachments, whereby we can estimate the power of preaching of the monk.
This continued for twelve years. One day nine persons were enlightened and not the tenth. Monk Nandisena was striving hard to enlighten him and it was very late when the lady with whom he stayed arrived and said : "Oh Lord, time for dinner passes away. Please get up and accept food. This man does not seem capable to be enlightened by you".
Monk replied: "The tenth man must be enlightened and unless I do so I cannot accept food".
With a smile she retorted : "Perhaps you as the tenth man may be enlightened!”
Delusion of the monk instantaneously was dissolved and he took up the monk's attire and materials lying aside. Her smile brought about a catastrophe for her. She requested him frequently in vain to refrain from his resolve. The monk approached Lord Mahavira who having granted him expiation accepted him in the fold of the
