Dravyasamgraha

Author(s): Nemichandra Acharya, Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp

Page 11

PREFACE
KNOW YOUR SOUL TO BE THE TRUE KING,
HAVE FAITH IN IT, AND ATTEND TO IT.
fter winning six divisions of earth in all directions (digvijaya),
humbling numerous kings, possessors of supernatural powers (vidyādharas), and celestial beings (devas), and acquiring nine-fold most precious treasures (nidhi) and fourteen jewels (ratna), Emperor Bharata Cakravartī proceeded for his capital Ayodhyapuri with his vast ocean of army and the all-powerful, divine cakraratna (spinning, disk-like super weapon with serrated edges). But the cakraratna, surprisingly, stopped on its own at the entrance of Ayodhyapuri signalling to the Emperor that there still remain individuals who have refused submission to his supreme authority. The Emperor found out that they were no one else but his own younger brothers - ninety-nine of them, all extremely virtuous, full of self-esteem, and not easy to win over. The Emperor sent them an appropriate message through an envoy. On receiving the message, highly courteous but essentially commanding them to submit before his authority, they all decided to approach, with a strong urge for world renunciation, their Father, the World Teacher (Tīrthankara) Lord Rishabha Deva, who, after attaining Omniscience, was gloriously seated in His heavenly pavilion (samavasarana) erected by the celestial beings at Mount Kailasha. The World Teacher, in His divine discourse, set them firmly on the path to liberation; He preached that for anyone who had great selfesteem, magnificent body, in the prime of his youth, extreme strength, and also noble virtues, it was not commendable to be subservient to a worldly power, like a majestic elephant tamed for use as a carrier. All the brothers, realizing the transitory nature of the world and determined to salute and adore no one but Lord Rishabha Deva, who is worshipped even by the Indras, embraced the most extraordinary Jaina ordination dīksā). They all, endowed with the final and superior bodies of extraordinary sturdiness and strength (vajrarṣabhanārācasamhanana), became truly independent, followed the most demanding conduct prescribed for a Muni to the letter, and finally attained the Supreme Status that is libera