Jain Ramayana Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 31

Lanka: Its Decline and Rise
19
Nearby, there stood a Muniraj rapt in deep meditation. His face was serene and resplendent like the moon ! His eyes were purer than the petals of a lotus !
Experiencing terrible pain on account of being hit in the vitals, the monkey looked, intently towards the Muniraj in deep distress and utter helplessness. The Muniraj was greatly overcome with compassion for the monkey; and at once, he bent over the groaning monkey. He placed his lips at the ear of the monkey and recited the supremely auspicious Navkar Mantra, Shri Namaskar Mahamantra was the best and lasting preparation for the monkey's journey to the other world. The monkey breathed once or twice with great difficulty; and then the bird of its life flew away.
The Muniraj was, indeed, an ocean of compassion and kind ness. When he found that the dying Jivatma did not have the necessary preparation for its great journey to the other world, he benevolently bestowed upon it, at once, a tremendous "preparation”.
The drama of the monkey's life came to an end.
His soul achieved a transmigration; and entered another body.
On account of the efficiency of the Navkar Mantra, the monkey was born in the heavenly world. By means of Avadhijnan i.e., extra sensory perception, he remembered his previous life. He visualized even now his blood-covered body lying on the ground; and the Muniraj standing nearby in a silent meditation. He was overwhelmed with gratitude when he remembered the great benefaction that the Muniraj had bestowed upon him. At once, he approached the Muniraj, and stood before him for a moment, with his head bent down in veneration.
A Muniraj is worthy of being saluted; but a benevolent Muniraj is worthy of being worshipped with a special venera tion. After the salutation, his eyes fell on the forest around, and burst forth with raging indignation. He noticed that Tadithkesh's soldiers were cruelly and heartlessly killing the monkeys.