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Bhagwan Mahavir ]
[ 519
ed 'Abala' ( the weaker sex ) in fact this word is misapplied in their case. As far as their constitution is concerned they might be called weak, but as regards their virtues they have been humilating the greatest warriors ascetics, artists, scientists, and men of letters since the very creation of this world. All great souls that have been born or will be born on this earth were nursed and will be nursed in the arms of those so called weaker sex. It is the woman community alone which knows the real value of sacrifice. A woman gives up her own family name and adopts that of her husband after marriage. In the laboratory of her own body she performs such chemical experiments which enrich the world with most valuable jewels-the human bodies. These very chemical preparations who are called 'men' afterwards can attain the highest position-the slvation-if they like simply by keeping good company and reading good scriptures. When so powerful and so virtuous is our woman community, it is not very difficult for us to bring one Jambu Kumara under our subjection."
So, the marriage ceremony was at last celebrated with great pomp and show. People now began to laugh at the self restraint of Jambu, but he was of a resolute mind and remained quite unconcerned with such nonsensical talks. He allowed them to have their fill and did not say a word in reply. Jambu-Kumara got a dowry of 99 crores of rupees in his marriage. Today it is very difficult to find a man who might possess 99 crores of rupees. From this dowry, which was given by an ordinary merchant, we can form an idea of the financial position of India at that time. The marriageparty was then bidden farewell to, and Jambu-Kumara came
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