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Bhagwan Mahavir 1
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transmigrate and adopt another body after death.” After hearing this precept Maitarya humbly knelt at the feet of the Lord, and accepted his discipleship accompanied by his pupils.
The eleventh and the last Pundit, named Prabhasa, .followed suit and came to the Samavasharana of the Lord with his 300 disciples. He did not believe in salvation. The Lord knew this. He told him his doubt without his asking and quoted the text of the Veda which had occasioned a disbelief in him. The text was as follows:
“FTIAT GIGINEITH " Prabhasa thought that it meant that a man should perform fire-sacrifice every day. But as fire sacrifice was another name of animal slaughter, he could not think how it could lead in Salvation. But, then, there was another text, namely:
" agu argazi " which means that the two Brahmas ( Supreme Souls ) - one' Para' and the other’Apara'-ought to be known. This clearly proved the existence of salvation.” The Lord said,” O Learned Prabhasa ! it is these apparently contradictory texts which have caused a doubt in your mind about Moksha. It seems you have not understood well the meaning of the Veda. I will tell you how to interpret these texts. Put' gia' ( also ) in the place of ’ar'(or) and then explain the first text as follows:- One, who desires to go to heaven, should perform fire-sacrifice till the end of his life; and who desires to attain Salvation should adopt means which lead to Salvation, instead of indulging in such things as fire-sacrifice etc.
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