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Just then, concluding his meditation, the ascetic raised his hand—“O king elephant ! Calm down. Learn to forgive. Recognize me. Recognize yourself. In your past birth you were Marubhuti and I am king Arvind. Recall our past relationship."
At these words from the ascetic, the king elephant was lost in deep thoughts. He attained jati-smaran-jnana (memories of the past birth). Memories of past birth surfaced like a movie— 'Oh ! I am Marubhuti. This is my benefactor king Arvind. All these pilgrims are headed towards Ashtapad to pay homage.
The king elephant bowed his head, bent his front legs and paid homage to the ascetic. He then raised the trunk to beg pardon.
The enlightened ascetic gave him the sermon of forgiveness. He said—“In your past birth you were a scholarly Brahmin and a Shravak (a Jain). You wer compassionate towards all beings. But at the time of death you became angry with your brother Kamath. As a consequence you were born as an elephant. Now abandon anger and enhance the feelings of forgiveness, tolerance, kindness and compassion."
When the elephant knew of his past birth he sought forgiveness of the ascetic again and again. He raised his head to beg the merchant's pardon as well—"I have
BHAGAVAN PARSHVA NAATH
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