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I am the Soul also attain Moksa before the Guru. Several of the disciples of Gautam Ganadhar who were enlightened by him, attained kevaljnana before him. In the same way, from among the eleven Ganadhars of Prabhu Mahavir, nine Ganadhars attained Moksa before him. Prabhu had more years of age left and his disciples had already ascended the Siddha category. Prabhu Mahavir was moving about as an Arihant and when he offered salutations to the infinite Siddhas saying - upit HGTVT - Namo Siddhanam, he was saluting his own disciples. Brothers! That is a miracle!
But in spite of this miracle, in spite of the Guru remaining confined and the disciple attaining kevaljnana, what is the disciple's duty? What is his dharma? That Srimadji has tried to explain in this gatha. He has said - fare the HITCH!
The great experienced sages have pointed out vinay - fate - humility as the root of religion. It has also been said -
विनय मूलो धम्मो। The root of religion is humility - vinay, and the fruit of religion is liberation - Moksa. For the attainment of Moksa, vinay is an inevitable prerequisite. If good fruit is desired, then the root has to be strong. The tree with an uprooted or rotten root is bound to fall. If the tree has to be kept green and flowering and if fruits are desired, then it is the root that has to be looked after. In the same way, for the desired fruit of Moksa, the root of vinay has to be nurtured.
Hence, it has been said here that even the disciples who have attained kevaljnana should bow before the confined Guru, for the Guru is immensely benevolent. Had the Gurudev not indicated the path, the sadhaka - disciple would not have reached the goal of kevaljnana. So the Guru is not to be forgotten. In fact, until attaining kevaljnana, that is to say until crossing the twelfth gunasthana, he has progressed only with the help of the Guru and has been achieving uplift of the soul from time to time.
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