________________
Bhagwan Mahavir ]
[ 273
and following in the foot-prints came to the place where Lord Malavira was standing in meditation. There the footprints stopped. But to his utter surprise and bewilderment the palmist found that instead of an emperor there was standing a hermit meditating under a tree. He was very much disappointed and began to curse the science of palmistry as well as his own knowledge of it. He drew a deep sigh and said to himself, "Had I known that I was going to meet a beggar instead of an emperor I would never have wasted my time in travelling so long a distance for nothing. Had I remained at my own place instead of coming over here, I would have earned something at least." While Pushpaka was thus revolving in his mind, Indra came there and seeing him in utter disappointment, said to him "Pushpaka ! do you think this ascetic to be a mere beggar ? If you think so you are mistaken, for he is not an ordinary beggar. He is it beggar whom the emperors worship and whom Indra, the Lord of Heavens, is always eager to pay his obeisance to. Truly, he is a beggar for the mistaken people like yourself, but in fact he is more than the Chakravarti and the Gods including Indra himself. Only a few days back he gave millions of rupees in charity. To day he has come out to give such a valuable thing in charity to the creatures of this world which can make the riserable happy and the beggars rich Do not be disappointed therefore, your desires shall be fulfilled;for nobody has ever turned hopeless from his Durbar. This ascetic appears in the same form and shall always appear in the same form in which he is worshipped by his devotees. Neither your palmistry is wrong nor your calculation is incorrect. Surely, he is an emperor; and you can take
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
