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The onlookers looked in surprise. People cursed the hermit—"Cursed is your penance ! The serpent god was burning in your pyre and you did not know ? Shame! Shame!"
The hermit looked down silently but his eyes became red with anger. Prince Parshva dismounted and came near the snake.
"O snake ! I know that you are suffering intense pain. Calm down. Listen to the Mantra and have faith in it." He then gave instructions to his servant. The servant sweetly chanted Namokar Mantra thrice-"Namo Arihantanam... Namo Siddhanam..." The snake listened to the mantra with devotion and died enduring the pain with equanimity.
A blue glow emerged from the body of the snake and ascended in the sky. The soul of the snake reincarnated as Dharanendra, the king of Naag Kumar gods.
53
BHAGAVAN PARSHVA NAATH
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