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the difference between material happiness and spiritual happiness. He also described to him the inexplicable state of Jiva ( spirit ) after it has attained true happiness. In the end the sage dwelt upon the problems relating to spirit and its salvation, and after putting very briefly a clear idea of self-realisation before him resumed his journery. Nayasara too returned. The words of the sage had practically electrified him. He felta resistless inspiration to attain ever lasting happiness by means of self-realisation. The stream of his life took a different turn. The words of the sage had gone home so deeply that he immediately made up his mind to give every minute of his remaining life in carrying out the injunctions of the sage in letter and spirit. This was the first rung of the ladder leading to salvation; and he had fully prepared himself to climb over it. When the sage had resumed his journey, Nayasara came back and took his food; and after loading the carts with bundles of wood brought them to the King of Jayanti. He then went to his village and took a vow to lead a religious life according to the biddings of the sage. He kept his vow to the end of life. When he left this world, he went straight to the region of gods called Saudharama, where he was endowed with divine life lasting for a period of one Palyopama ( a measure of time ). These were the two lives of Lord Mahavira, that is one in the form of Nayasara and the other in that of a divine being.
THE THIRD AND FOURTH BIRTHS OF
LORD MAHAVIRA. After completing the span of life alloted to him in the body of the divine being, the Jiva or the soul of the wouldbe Lord Mahavira took his birth in the royal family of the
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