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Bhagawan Mahavir ]
[ 525
first to ruin the home of Jambu-kumara, his father-in law's kinsmen, Prabhava, and his companions and then to build fresher one for them. The same thing happened at last. Jambu-kumara heard very attentively all that Prabhava said, and then returned, 'O Prabhava, everything depends upon Karmas. Karmas are responsible for creating different tas-- tes in different individuals. It is on account of this difference of tastes that one person likes one thing while another dislikes and spurns it. However beautiful and sweet a thing might be, it cannot be liked by that man whom it cannot attract. According to the proverb beautiful is that which is liked by one, everything is not beautiful. That is why an opium-eater profers opium to clarified sugar." Thus Jambukumara influenced the mind of that thief to a great extent by his talks. His company was the cause of maturing up the auspicious karmas of his previous birth. Thereupon the theif requested Jambu-kumara to pardon him for his ill behaviour and his evil thoughts, and Kumara, in return, embraced him in his arms. Everything was now changed. The thief who had come with the hope of making him and his companions rich by the wealth of theft, sacrificed not only this wealth but the whole that he had hoarded by theft upto this time, and was now ready to accept self-restraint with Jambu-kumara. Then, in the company of Jambu-kuniara,' he came to the place where his companions were standing with thoir feet stuck to the ground. Prabhava at once placed before his companions his thoughts about renunciation. The sticking of their feet to the ground and the sudden change in the life of Prabhava astonished them very much. When they noticed a sudden change in the thoughts of their leader, they
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