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JAIN RAMAYAN
gain a great benefit in the future by experiencing a little harm now, that way is certainly acceptable. Instead of endlessly oscillating in the swings of the wheel of Samsar, I am determined to pursue the path of salvation; and this determination of mine is absolutely firm, unchangeable, immovable and unalterable.
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And when the goddess of the evening, decorated the courtyards and pavilions of the firmament with fascinating and glorious colours; the court-yard and the pavilions of Vaishravan's heart also became decorated with the sublime colours of renunciation, and self-discipline.
As a result of this, he discarded his royal robes and weapons on the battle-field. He descended from his beloved and faithful horse. He saluted all the friends and relatives who had gathered there and within a few moments he put on the dress of a sadhu. At that very moment, he discarded his inborn hostility against jivas and developed the lofty emotion of amity for all jivas. He uprooted and eradicated all the seeds and plants of anger, arrogance, pride, attachments and hatred that had been planted in that vast world of his heart; and sowed there the seeds of forgiveness, tenderness, simplicity and humility from the beginning, de novo.
The news that Vaishravan had received the Sadhudharma spread like wild fire from one end of the battle-field to another. When Dashmukh Ravan who was deeply engaged in the war, heard of this he was greatly astounded. He thought that it was an incident the like of which had not occurred in the past and would not occur in the future. Dashmukh Ravan had not even dreamt that such a transformation would come about in Vaishravan. He hurried to meet Vaishravan. He saw Vaishravan from a distance. But now Vaishravan was not a King; was not the King of Lanka; but a sadhu with a radiant face. He was now the very embodiment of serenity and the spirit of renunciation. Ravan's heart was overwhelmed with emotions. From his eagleeyes, two tears of joy dripped. At once, he alighted from his chariot. He took off his gold crown; he lay aside his weapons; and went walking up to Vaishravan. Vaishravan stood still like a sublime stone-image. Dashmukh Ravan saluted the feet of
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