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Bhagawan Mahavir)
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separation of my parents. I need not say anything more, for you yourself are wise enough to follow the right course. I hope you will take into consideration the good and welfare of the people and of myself before you take a final decision in this respect.”
Tender-hearted Vardhamana could not hear the painful words of his brother any more. He stood up at once and came back to his palace. The words of Nandivardhana had touched him to the quick. He now found himself between Scylla and Charybdis on the one hand, he was fettered by the love of his family, on the other, he was being drawn by his own love of humainity which was waiting for his help. He shut himself in a closet to think over this problem for some time, and at last, decided to postpone his idea of accepting consecration for some time more. Although this thing did not quite harmonise with the feeling of his heart, still finding no other way to please his brother and his subjects that time, he had to make this decision, and had thus to postpone the execution of his object for about two years more. He now left the use of luxuries altogether.
Prince Vardhamana was now more then twenty eight years old. It was a little more then one year that was remaining for his accepting consecration now.
When our future Lord completed the twenty-ninth year of his age, the Laukantika gods presented themselves before him aud began to praise him in very mild tones as they had done in the case of other Tirthankaras. They said, you are the Lord, the true well-wisher of the creatures of this world. You are Salvation incarnate. Please explain the true meaning of the salvation to the world, so that people may
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