Jain Legend Vol 2

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

Page 173

Prvas to Sth labhadra continuously for eight years; and Sth labhadra became well-versed in eight P rvas.
One day Sth labhadra asked c rya Bhadrab hu, "Lord! How much more remains for me to learn?"
c rya Bhadrab hu replied, "O humble son! Whatever you have learnt so far is equivalent to one drop of the unfathomable Sindhu Ocean. You are still left with learning the entire Sindhu Ocean, except for this one drop."
Catching a glimpse of slight disappointment on the face of his disciple, c rya Bhadrab hu said in an encouraging tone, "Do not be disappointed, O amiable One! I will teach the remaining P rvas very fast."
By the time c rya Bhadrab hu finished his Mah pr a Dhyan, he had taught Sth labhadra two topics less of the ten P rvas and with his congregation from Nepal left for P al putra. There he preached dharma to a huge audience in a garden outside the city.
Sth labhadra's ascetic sisters, Yak and the six others also came to the garden to pay homage to c rya Bhadrab hu, rya Sth labhadra and other monks. After bowing to c rya Bhadrab hu, Female-monk Yak asked, "Lord! Where is our eldest brother, Sth labhadra?"
The crya answered " rya Sth labhadra might be studying in the dilapidated temple (caitya) nearby."
Yak along with her six sisters left towards the said temple. Sth labhadra, from a distance, saw them approaching and wanted to show them a miracle from his learning. Instantly, using the power of his knowledge, he turned himself into a huge and beautiful lion. After reaching the decrepit temple, the Female monks saw the ferocious lion sitting there and their eldest brother was not visible anywhere, they fled to their teacher and told him, "O Lord! There is a lion sitting at the temple and rya Sth labhadra is nowhere to be seen. We are worried if our astute rama a has been devoured by the lion."
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