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taken care of by the elder Th vacc 's wife. She maintained her clan's respect and honour in the same way as her husband did. Because of the popularity of the Th vacc 's wife, her son also became popular as Th vacc putra.
Once upon a time, Lord Ari anemi, along with 18000 monks and 40,000 female-monks, arrived at the Nandanavana Garden on Raivataka Mountain. Hearing the auspicious news of the arrival of the Lord,
rk a and countless people of Dv rik came to the samava ara a. Th vacc putra also came there with his dear ones. The Lord gave his sermon, hearing which Th vacc kum ra became disenchanted and going to his mother, said – “Mother, I have heard the Lord's nectar-like speech. I want to take mendicancy at the Lord's feet to escape from the cycle of birth and death.” Th vacc elder became speechless at her son's words. She tried to explain to him in many ways but seeing him firm in his decision, she gave him permission.
When Vasudeva K a learnt of Th vacc putra's decision he tried to dissuade him, too. But Th vacc putra said – “afraid of the cycle of birth, disease and death, I want to become a monk. If you can protect me from these then I am ready to live in this world enjoying its pleasures." In response to this K a said – “birth, disease, death are irreversible naked truths of the world which cannot be cured by god or man. These can only be addressed by the destruction of karmas." Th vacc putra said – “Well, that is why I want to become a monk.”
Impressed by the firm decision of Th vacc putra, K. a announced that “Th vacc putra is taking initiation under Lord Ari anemi, and if anyone else wants to do the same, he has K a's permission. People dependent on them will be looked after by me.” People from various families and castes, one thousand of them, became ready for initiation with Th vacc putra. K a himself consecrated those people an all of them took initiation under the Lord at his samava ara a. After initiation, Th vacc putra studied the fourteen p rvas and through penance, destroying karmas, wandered about. Impressed by Th vacc putra's penance and intense austerities, Lord Ari anemi gave him the thousand monks as his disciples and the liberty and instructions to roam around with him. The monk Th vacc putra accepted the Lord's command and immersed himself in wandering with great responsibility.
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