Book Title: Holy Abu
Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

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Page 184
________________ Luna-Vasahi ) tot The slab is divided into two panels ( fig. 46), an upper to beings during his wanderings. Once, seeing with his clairvoyant knowledge that a horse was in immediate need of instruction in Right Path, he covered, in one day, a distance of 240 koshas from Pratishthānapura and reached Bhrgukachchha, in Lāțadesha, on thc banks of the Narmadā river. Staying in the Koranța-vana ( forest-grove or park) outside the city, he began delivering a sermon to the assembly before him. A horse, wandering at will, but watched and followed by royal guards, turned up and seeing the Lord who was unsurpassed in beauty and lustre, stopped there, charmed as it were, and began hearing the sermon. This horse was let loose by King Jitashatru of Broach (Bhțgukachchha ) who had started a horse-sacrifice, wherein this horse of best breed was consecrated for final offering. In course of his discourse, the Lord narrated the story of his own previous existence as also of that of the horse hearing which the animal obtained supernatural cognition about its previous birth and took in its mind a pious vow to observe the path prescribed for a devoted shrāvaka. The horse decided not to eat or drink anything which involved killing (himsā). At this juncture, a Gañadhara (chief disciple ) of the Lord, asked a question: O Lord, pray tell me about the being who has been benefited today with the attainment of the Right Faith, on hearing this discourse.' The Jina said that it was the famous horse of King Jitashatru who had this benefit. Jitashatru, present in this audience, was much pleased at this, and freed the horse from the immolation ordained for him as also from bondage for the rest of his life. For six months the horse lived the peaceful life of a devoted shravaka and then died. Being reborn in the next existence as a powerful god in the Saudharma-loka (heaven), he saw with the help of his clairvoyant knowledge, the incidents of his previous existence whereupon he visited the spot where the Lord had held his assembly and imparted right kñowledge. On this spot he erected an extremely beautiful magnificent shrine dedicated to

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