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I am the Soul
Minister said, "O King! You should first of all, perform the puja to the Chakraratna and then after announcing the celebrations for the child-birth, start preparing for it". Bharat thought, “All these are material affairs, the jiva has enjoyed them ever so often and will do it again, but where can I get this opportunity of attending the Kevaljnana celebrations of the Tirthankar again? My Lord has been endowed with Kevaljnana after thoroughly purifying his soul, I should be performing pujas at his feet first." Setting all business aside, he reached there, bowed before Tirthankar Rishabhdev and participated in the Kevaljnana celebrations.
Brothers! Tell me, where should he have gone? You are seated here in a religious gathering, so you may say that he should have gone to the Lord's Kevaljnana celebrations. But what does your mind say? 'First of all the Chakraratna, that is offering the Chakravarti status, should have been propitiated. Ah, the Kevaljnana has already been attained, will it go away now? And of course, the entire town will be going over to attend the Kevaljnana celebrations. Ah, the devas and the Indras will also be there. What if Bharat alone does not attend?'.
If such a situation were to arise in your life, wouldn't you think the same way? Especially when it is to do with the religious field you would certainly say so. 'Why should I alone be doing all this? Isn't there anybody else? What harm will come if I were to abstain?'
Brothers! You have all heard the Birbal-Akbar anecdote. The tank was to be filled with milk, instead it got filled with water. Everybody thought, 'All other citizens are bound to bring in a cup of milk, what if I were to add a cup of water', and they took advantage of the night. The next morning there was only water and not a drop of milk in the tank.
Think! This instance occurred hundreds of years ago. But human tendency has remained the same. Have you changed?
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