Jain Legend Vol 2

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

Page 164

Apart from strictly following all the vows of an ascetic, he served his Guru with humility and also served the older rama as, and through penance burning his Karma, Monk Sth labhadra studied the scriptures with great enthusiasm and concentration from his Guru Sambh tavijaya.
When Sth labhadra left the palace, Nanda appointed r yaka as the Prime Minister of Magadha. The skilled politician r yaka, like his father
aka ra, administrating wisely started contributing for the all-round development of the kingdom. The King Nanda respected the young Prime Minister just as he respected the late Prime Minister aka ra.
The toughest self-imposed challenge of Sth labhadra
On the other hand, Sth labhadra, living in the close proximity of his revered Guru and persistently working hard day and night, learnt and mastered the entire Ek da mg (eleven limbs of canons).
As monsoon season set in, three other disciples of Sambh tavijaya approached him and expressed their desire to take up formidable vows. All the four disciple disciples wanted to observe the four months long fast. Besides the first disciple wanted to meditate near the mouth of the lion's lair the second one wanted to meditate in a standing posture near the hole of a snake with poison in his sight, and the third disciple wanted to meditate sitting on the wall of a well.
When rya Sambh tavijaya listened to the tough vows that the disciples intended to take up, he contemplated and felt that they are capable of accomplishing them and so he gave them, his consent.
At that juncture, rya Sth labhadra, bowing at the feet of his Guru with folded hands in reverence, expressed his desire that he would want to stay for four months in the picture chamber of the courtesan Ko amidst many attractive murals that provoke the senses, eat rich and delicious six-course meal and still continue his asceticism without any diversion and without violating the Strict principles of celibacy. Using his powers of cognition rya Sambh tavijaya comprehended that Sth labhadra would be successful in this challenging vow. Hence rya Sambh tavijaya granted him the permission to stay in the picture chamber of Ko.
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