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Bhagwan Mahavir ]
[ 491
Lord Mahavira now thought it proper to reply to his taunts. He, therefore, said to Goshala very mildly."Goshalal Mind your misbehaviour with your own Guru who taught as well as consecrated you. He who gave you the knowledge of the scriptures and on account of whom you attained the Tejoleshya, does not deserve such illtreatment at your hands. It shows the weakness of your heart and the incompleteness of your knowledge. Anger is the sign of ignorance. The beauty of learning and penance lies in being modest and calm. Therefore you must try to mend your ways." Now Goshala's anger knew no bounds. He drew towards the Lord and with all his might discharged Tejoleshya upon him. But just as a fearful gust of wind, being checked by a mountain, rushes back and uproots the trees and bushes that come in its way, in the same way, Tejolesh ya finding itself unable to burn the body of the Lord, returned to Goshala and thinkirg that it had been misused by him, began to burn his own body fiercely. Although he was feeling extreme pain all over his body on account of this reaction of his Tejolesh ya, still he took courage and said to the Lord, "Kashyapa, Never mind, although my weapon has failed in bringing about an immediate effect on your body, remember that you cannot escape from its consequences. You shall die today or tomarrow. Rest assured that just after six months from to-day, you will get an attack of bilions fever which will kill you most certainly."
Then the Lord said, "Goshala, to desire is not to get. You talk like a mad man. At present, my soul is in the Arhant state, and I shall tour in the same state for a period of about 16 years more. On the other hand, you yourself shall get an attack of fever, produced by your own Tejoleshya and
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