Jain Journal 1973 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 15

108
JAIN JOURNAL
-Bhante ! Is Skandaka of the Katyayana line, the beloved of the gods, coming here to be tonsured, to renounce home in order to court the life of a homeless mendicant? Oh Lord !
As Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira was giving reply to this enquiry by Gautama, Skandaka of the Katyayana line hurriedly, reached that place.
Then Bhagavan Gautama, having known that Skandaka of the Katyayana line had come very near, hurriedly got up and advanced (towards him) to welcome him. He reached the place where Skandaka of the Katyayana line was, and having reached the place, he welcomed him as follows :
Skandaka! Welcome to thee, a very hearty welcome. Thy coming is good ; thy coming portends to great good. Welcome to thee!
Skandaka! In the city of Sravasti, the Vaisalika Sravaka Pingala had inquisitively put the questions to thee Oh Magadha! Are the spheres with limit or without ? (And so on). And indeed you have come here for enlightenment. Is that right?
On this, Skandaka of the Katyayana line made the following reply to Bhagavan Gautama :
-Gautama ! This is very true. But who is that wise man, the savant, who is rich in penance, who has known beforehand the inner thoughts of mine, and (meseems) you are already in the know of them ?
Then quoth Bhagavan Gautama to Skandaka of the Katyayana line :
Right you are, oh Skandaka ! The great spiritual Acarya, the great guide on spiritual matters, Sramana Bhagavan : Mahavira is the holder of the supreme kevala-knowledge and kevala-vision : he is an Århat, a Jina, a Kevalī, a knower of the past, present and future, all-knowing and all-seeing. It is he who has revealed your secret thoughts to me. And it is thus, oh Skandaka, I know them.
On this, Skandaka of the Katyayana. line said as follows unto Bhagavan Gautama :