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[ The Previous Lives of Lord Mahavira
Nayasara was the guardian of Prithvi-Pratishthana, a village on the boarder of the kingdom of Shatrumardana, whose capital city was Jayanti in the Mahavapra Province of the Mahavideha in the western part of Jambudvipa. Once Nayasara was ordered by the king to bring some loads of finest wood to him from the forest in his possession. Nayasara started to the jungle with many of his followers and a number of carts with him. Athis command some of his men began to gather wood, while others prepared food for him. Noonday came and all felt hungry. Nayasara was instantly told that food was ready whereupon he asked the workers to stop work and take their food. They responded to him, left their work and went to take food. Nayasara too was feeling acute pangs of hunger, yet he would not take his food. He was waiting for an Atithi ( an uninvited guest ), for, as a rule. entertaining a guest at dinner time is considered to be one of the chief daily duties of a Grihastha ( house holder ).
Nayasara was just waiting for a guest when Samudrasena, the chief of the saints, chanced to come over there with a number of his disciples. True it is that sincere feelings of a devotee always get a response; and the greater the sincerity the sooner comes the success. The sudden arrival of the monks put new life into Nayasara. His heart began to throb with delight. He gave a very warm reception to the monks and began to praise his own good luck. The monks accepted the food offered by him;and when they were ready to go,Nayasara followed them for a distance to see them off. After having reached a certain distance Nayasara bowed down to the chief monk Samudrasena most respectfully and begged him leave to return. It was at this time that the sage explained to him
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