________________
Bhagawan Mahavir]
[ 383
for this and consecreted him with his five hundred disciples accordingly.
In fact, Indra-bhuti was a man of deep learning and a seeker of Truth. It is quite another thing that he had not been able to solve a particular riddle, for to err is human. It is the characteristic of every true warrior that when he is defeated he does not despise his opponent, but pays due respects to him. Similarly the warrior who is victorious does not look down upon him but embraces him with all his heart. This meeting of the defeater and the defeated is worth seeing. It is very delightful and heart-ravishing. There are many instances of such meetings in the history of the world. Gautama Indra-bhuti had gone to the Lord proudly with the intention of defeating him, but the result was quite to the contrary. It may be said that he was nearing perfection; and when he was convinced that the Lord could give it to him, he accepted it very gladly. The test of true knowledge is to accept truth from wherever it can be found. But such seekers of truth are very few in number. This world is mostly full of haughty people. Not only do they not accept Truth but try to turn it into un-Truth by various conceits. If the energy which they misuse in this way, be applied to self-realization, they can improve their own lot as well as the lot of other people. Indra-bhuti who was a highly learned man, was also a lover of Truth. If he was in error he would always admit his mistake and would not insist on a wrong opinion. But he would not lower himself down before any body, until he was sure that he was on the wrong.
This news of Indra-bhuti's accepting consecration spread in the city like the current of electricity. Agni-bhuti,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org.
