Jain Legend Vol 1

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

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karmas and gain the T rthamkara-n ma-karma even, can become pure, knowledgeable and emancipated.” On hearing this from the Lord, the Brahmin said, “Lord, if it is so, then there is nothing else other than this." Saying this, the Brahmin sat with a contented countenance in his place.
To make clear the secret in this sermon for the listeners, Lord's main Ga adhara asked – “Lord, what is the secret of the Brahmin's question and your response?” To this the Lord Ajitan tha said, “A little distance from here is a village named ligr ma. A Brahmin named D mod ra used to live there. His wife's name was S m . Their son was named
iddhabha a. When iddhabha a attained marriageable age, he was married to the daughter of a Brahmin iddhabha a, named Sulak a ,
iddhabha a and Sulak a were living happily when both their parents passed away and all their wealth and prosperity too ended. It reached a stage when even two square meals a day was difficult. iddhabha a was so unhappy with this poverty that one day he left to another country without telling his wife. When Sulak a realized this she was shocked. Immersed in an ocean of sorrow the lone Sulak a began to spend her life like a recluse far away from everyone. In those very days a preceptor named Vipul along with two other female-monks came to that village to stay during the rains and started to live in a corner of Sulak a 's home. Sulak a used to listen to the discourse of the preceptor everyday and she began to develop a taste for the religion. When her cloud of illusion cleared, from within her emerged right belief and she accepted the Jain religion which would help her cross the ocean of this world. Through this her ka yas (passions) were stilled and she developed distaste and disinterest for sensual pleasures. She served the female-monks with devotion throughout the rainy season halt (c turm s a period). When the rainy season halt ended the female-monks made her accept the minor vows (a uvratas), making her a female-votary and left for another pla After the female-monks had left, Sulak a 's husband returned home with large sums of money. Sulak a was very happy with his coming. When iddhabha a asked her as to how she spent her time after his departure Sulak a said, "I was in distress over your leaving when the female-monks came here and stayed in our house for four months, purifying it. Seeing them my pangs of separation from you were quelled and I got from them the jewel of right belief and a meaning for my birth."
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