Jain Legend Vol 1

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 83

Lord r Ajitan tha
It is the law of nature that a person whose present life is superior, to his past life's efforts must have been as superior. The second T rthamkara of Jain religion; Lord rAjitan tha's past life's efforts were also high and worth emulating. His past life is described as follows:
In Mah Videha province of Jamb dv pa on the southern banks of a river named St there is an extremely prosperous and beautiful heaven (vijaya) named Vatsa. There was an extremely beautiful city there named Sus m . A ruler, brave, just, religious and one filled with qualities due in a king, named Vimalay hana ruled there. He was unsullied by pleasures and was disinclined towards royal pleasures. He was popular among people as being magnanimous and compassionate.
While ruling happily one day Vimalav hana, in the course of selfintrospection, thought, what should a living being do having attained a human life? In this world there is neither beginning nor end to the cycle of birth, disease and death. Among 84 lakh existences (yoni), the human destiny is the only one where a living being can attain freedom from worldly pain by following the path of spiritual endeavour. I too have the golden opportunity to be free from this bondage; thus every minute of human life is invaluable. Nothing is to be gained by repenting after the endless, valuable time that has past, but whatever remains of this life, making the utmost spiritual gain from it would be most beneficial to me.
This way king Vimalav hana had just made a firm resolve towards spiritual endeavour for self-benefit when the gardener saluted him and informed him that due to the good deeds of the people of Sus m a great ascetic, crya Aridamana had arrived at a garden situated outside the city.
Hearing this timely and happy announcement Vimalav hana experienced indescribable joy and thought what an auspicious coincidence that when a good feeling arose in my mind I have got the good fortune of meeting an ascetic. The king reached the garden with his kith and kin. Hearing the immortality-bestowing sermon of crya Aridamana, the feeling of disenchantment of Vimalav hana gained strength. He asked the c rya with humility that in spite of constantly suffering the agony of the
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