________________
374]
Eleven Ganadharas of the Lord and their history
He said to himself, "It seems that this man is a great cheat, a dissembler and a hypocrite, who has not only charmed men with his hypocrisy, but even the gods. I should, therefore, make haste to expose his hypocrisy. If I do not teach him a lesson at this time, his hypocrisy will take root and will spread its branches in the world like a thorny bush, that would surely produce impediments in the way of the religious world."
He, therefore, hurried to the Samava-Sharana of the Lord, but, on his reaching there, was surprised to see its beauty. Certainly it was more beautiful than the YajnaShala (the place of Fire-Sacrifice ). He, then, entered the Samavasharana with his disciples and came to the centre where Lord Mahavira was seated in a peaceful posture. Although, in his pride, Indrabhuti did not show usual respects to the Lord, the Lord addressed him by his name and the name of his Gotra. The amazement of Indra-bhuti knew no bounds then; he thought "I have not yet told my name and. Gotra to him; how has he come to know of them ?" Readers, bear in mind that it is the nature of the fools that they think themselves to be peerless in the world. They persist in their impertinence without paying any heed to the realities of this world. But such fools are no less than dead, for, as it is said,"The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinion.".........Lowell.
The reason for this is that the fools think themselves to be wise; but really wise men would always be aware of their short-comings. In the words of Shakespeare:---
"The fool doth think he is wise but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.".......... As you like it.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
