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Bhagwan Mahavir ]
[ 375
Indrabhuti who was previously wondering as to how the Lord had come to know his name and Gotra, soon concluded that there was no reason for surprise, for he was already famous enough and his name and Gotra might have been mentioned to the Lord when he entered the Samavasharana. This is no test of Omniscience. Then he thought, "I would admit his Omniscience if he explains my thoughts without my telling them to him."
As soon as this thought flashed across his mind Lord Mahavira said, "Oh great Pundit! You have begun to doubt in the existence of Jiva (Soul) after reading the apparently contradictory verses of the Vedas. It seems you have not understood the meaning of these verses rightly. Now, listen to me, I will tell you what these verses really mean and thus try to remove doubts from your mind.
With these words, the Lord recited to him all the verses of the Veda which had occasioned a doubt in his mind and explained their meaning to him in the presence of all the people. He said, "Indrabhuti, that which knows and that which perceives is Jiva. Body is nothing but a covering of the Soul. Just as butter exists in milk, oil exists in seasame seeds, fire exists in wood, fragrance exists in the flower, and nectar exists in the Chandrakanta Mani ( a kind of precious stone which perspires and begins to emit water when it comes in contact with moon-beams ), in the same way Soul exists in the body. It exists separately as well. It can be seen by the supernatural eye of Jnana (perfect knowledge) of on Omniscient being.
You doubt in its existence because you cannot perceive it by your senses as you perceive other objects such as pots
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