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[ Arjuna, Mali attains salvation
days an which he brake the fast by receiving food in a prescribed manner, were the most critical days for Arjuna Muni. The reason was that the villagers still regarded him as a murderer; and whenever he went to beg food and water for his Parana, they tried to tease him instead of giving him food and water. Some of them said that he had killed their mother, some said that he had killed their father and brothers, while others said that he had killed their wives and children. Thus all regarded him their enemy and caused pain to his body in one way or the other. So he got more blows than bread. Muni Arjuna suffered all these blows very cheerfully and used to say to himself, "O my dear self, you have destroyed whole families of these people; but they are giving you only bodily pain in return. This bodily pain is not equal even to the interest of that sin. Really they are very generous. They are giving you receipts for the payment of debts after taking only the interest on the sum which I owe to them and which is quite impossible for me to pay even after taking many births in this world. You are fortunate to get such an opportunity and it is up to you now to avail of it." Thus Muni Arjuna tried to destroy his Karmas living in a contented manner on whatever he got easily. · Before his consecration, his companions were murder, anger, pride, folly etc., but now he associated himself with mercy, peace, pridelessness and detachment. his two great companions who never left him were patience and forgiveness. These companions helped him very much. It was due to their companionship that Muni Arjuna could be able to reach his cherished destination ( Salvation ) so easily and within a short period of six months only.
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