Jain Legend Vol 2

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

Page 268

cycle of existence between death and rebirth. In such a situation, how can I be cheerful? Had you studied D iv da which aims at the elevation of one and that of others, I would have rejoiced"
When the son asked her mother about the twelfth canon / limb ' D iv da' and who has the knowledge of it, she replied that c rya To aliputra, who stays in Iksuvatika, has its knowledge.
Rak ita assured his mother of learning D iv da and taking her permission, the next day he set off to Ik uvik .
When Rak ita came out of the city, an old man, a childhood friend of Somadeva met him on the way and gave him nine full and one half sugarcanes. This symbolized that Rak ita would be bestowed with the knowledge of nine and half P rvas.
On reaching Ik uvik , following a layman there, Rak ita entered the religious place and bowed with due respect to c rya To aliputra.
Thereupon, when c rya asked the purpose of his visit, Rak ita humbly requested, “Lord! I came to your service with an intention to study Div da"
When crya mentioned that the knowledge of D iv da would be imparted only after taking initiation, he cheerfully showed his preparedness to be initiated immediately in monkhood. After initiation as a monk, Rak ita stayed there in the service of his Guru To aliputra and by studying with utmost dedication, within a short time mastered the eleven Amgas like cr mga, etc. c rya To aliputra imparted Rak ita with whatever knowledge he had in D iv da, which the latter imbibed completely Later, c rya To aliputra directed rya Rak ita to the Da ap rvadhara
c rya Vajra Sw m for further studies of the P rvas. While going to rya Vajra, Rak ita reached Ujjaini. There Sthavira Bhadragupta, who envisaged that his life reached the end, asked Rak ita to be his assistant and stay with him till the completion of his fast unto death. rya Rak ita considered himself to be very fortunate to have such a golden opportunity of offering services to a great saint, and the superior and
268