Bhavana Bodh

Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

Page 44

BHAVANA BODH
37
behaving as an great ascetic - Samyati, and so he was worthy of being regarded as the head of all ascetics (Damishavar)
That Mrugaputra was enjoying divine pleasure with his affectionate wite in his grand palace just like deities enjoy in heaven. Mentally he was always cheerful, spreading joy and mirth around him. The floor of the palace was decorated with all sorts of jewels and diamonds. One day this prince Mrugaputra was sitting in a balcony of his palace from where he could clearly observe the whole city Sugriva. He caught sight of a square place, a meeting place of four royal roads and therein the place, where three roads met, attracted his sight and there he saw a saint, who was the abode of great penance, strict discipline, strong restraint, noble character and highest virtues. Mrugaputra fixed his sight on this great saint and the more he gazed at him from a distance, the more he was attracted towards him.
After some time spent in gazing this great saint, he said,' I know that I have seen before somewhere a form very like this saint,' and saying these words he became one with the life of this saint. The layer of infatuation from his soul, disappeared and he achieved quiescence. The knowledge of his previous births shone in him and as a result that Mrugaputra, enjoyer of royal richers, remembered his ascetic life of his previous birth and he immediately became non-attached to this present worldly life; he took away his attention from sense pleasures and took to the life of strict ascetic discipline. He approached his parents and said to them as under:
"I had heard of five great observances in my previous birth; / had also, at that time, heard of infinite miseries of hell; I had also heard of similar miseries accompanying animal life. I, therefore, feel much disturbed by such infinite miseries and I have decided to put an end to all these infinite kinds of miseries. O my respected elders! Please permit me to adopt those tive great observances to cross over this worldly ocean."
Hearing these words of their son, the parents invited him to enjoy worldly life in full measure. Feeling sorry at this invitation, Mrugaputra says " O you mother! and O you father! I have already