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Bhagawan Mahavir ]
[ 451
of the whole empire. People become old in their attempt to get his interview hut cannot. You are fortunate that your Emperor himself has come to see you at your house. So please go downstairs and see the Emperor there."
When Shali Bhadra heard that Shrenika was his emperor and the ruler of a big empire, he was very much perplexed at heart. He began to reflect in his mind, “When I, too, who have got measureless wealth, have got a master over me, I do not know what use there is of this endless wealth to me ? Fie on this ! However wealthy a man might be, another person superior to him can be easily found in this world. It is therefore decided that material wealth is a huge trouble over our heads. When the wealthy man himself is dependent upon others, what is the use of his wealth ? I, therefore, must try to seek for such wealth whose possessor is neither inferior to any nor superior to any. I think, such wealth can be obtained by Vairagya or renunciation only and by no other means. Wherever I cast my glance, I find that the strong everywhere rule over the week; birth is subject to death and youth to oldage; patience is strangled with ambition and mental peace with passion; good qualities are being destroyed by jealousy and forests by beasts and snakes; even the kings and wealthy people are not free from the fear of their enemies. I do not find any thing in this world which another does not want to snatch from its master. When it is difficult to please even one master, it would be still more difficult to please so many; to say nothing of maintaining one's own existence side by side with pleasing all the masters. I must, therefore, go to the shelter of Lord Mahavira and accept consecration at his feet."
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