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178]
. [Use of Avadhi-Janana by Mahavira in womb
of men from the bosoms of parents, or, I must have strangled people by force and snatched away both their lives and property, or I must have destroyed the nets of birds and beasts, or, I must have viewed the children of other people with a jealous eye, or I must have tried to destroy embryos of others by means of medicine etc., or I must have set fire to the forest and taken the life of hundreds and thousands of dumb innocent, creatures, or I must have misconducted myself in some other ways. Had it not been the case, how could my foetus be lifeless at this stage. Oh how I was cherishing hopes in my heart, Ah ! Destiny, they are all crumbled to earth. It was not in my fate to have the honour of being called the mother of a high soul. How could it be possible that great souls can be born without severe penances, and renunciation. Let it be so, but Oh Lord, what was the fault of the dreamreaders that their prediction was falsified ? Surely fate is all powerful learning and endeavour do not count. Ah Providence ! if such was to be my fate why I did see the fourteen dreams at all? Thus lamented queen Trishala who had lost herself in a whirl-pool of misgivings. She was much depressed in her spirits and the former cheerfulness had completely vanished from her face. All though she did not express her thoughts before others for grief, still her maid-servants could read very clearly her afflicted heart from her face. At last the king was informed of this fact. When he heard this sad news he was much grieved at heart and began to curse his fate. He could not bear his grief any longer and approched the queen with a heavy heart. But to his utter sadness he found the queen in a very pitiable condition. Other members of the royal family also heard this sad news, and ran
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