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disinclined on listening to Lord Nemin tha's discourse. In his full youth, leaving all his beautiful wives and wealth, he took initiation as a monk from Lord Nemin tha. rk a himself arranged a grand departure ceremony for his initiation. Becoming a monk, Dhamdha a began to serve Lord Nemin tha. On account of his kindness and soft-spoken behaviour he soon became dear to, and respected by all. While observing restraint through tough penance, he studied all the scriptures as well. After sometime, his predestined interfering /obstructing (antar ya) karmas emerged. When he would go for his alms he would not get it. Not just that, the monks who went with him also returned empty-handed. This went on for many days. Thus on one day, the monks asked Lord Nemin tha respectfully, “Lord! Dhamdha a monk is a disciple of yours, the Lord of three worlds, and the son of the brave ardhacakr Vasudeva K a. Why is it that he does not get even small offerings from even the big merchants, pious laymen and magnanimous householders? As if this weren't enough, the monks who accompany him also return disappointed."
Dispelling the doubts of the monks, the Lord said – “In his past birth Dhamdha a was a Brahmin named P r ara in Dh nyapura village of Magadha province. There he used to undertake agricultural transactions on behalf of the king. He was harsh by nature, used to make people cultivate the king's land. At lunch time, without giving them a break, he used to make them work. He used to make the hungry-thirsty bullocks draw an extra plough. Due to these bad deeds, he accumulated severe interfering karmas. After many births the same P r ara's soul has taken birth as Dhamdha a. Because of the past obstructing (antar ya) karmas he is unable to get offerings from wealthy families even if they want to give him." Hearing the above account from the Lord he was repentant for his past bad deeds. Saluting the Lord, he said – “I shall break my own bad deeds and shall not accept food obtained through someone else." Because of obstructing (antar ya) karma monk Dhamdha a would not get food and he would not accept food brought by others. As a result, it was a penance without food for several days, yet he was steady in his penance and restraint. One day, at the samava ara a rk a asked - "Who is the monk in your order who does the toughest penance?" Lord Ari anemi said – “Dhamdha a is the monk who does the hardest penance. Despite spending time without food for several days, he has no ill-feeling in his mind.” Hearing this K a was very happy. He was
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