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452
JAIN RAMAYAN
"Remember that you should not give way to distress, fear or weakness. You should not allow the attachment for the body to agitate you. Bhagwan Munisuvratswami is always watching Ius with his spiritual eyes. His compassion will give us strength to face any calamity. We must tell Palak." Palak you may very well break our bones, you may peel off our skins; you may spill our blood but you cannot do anything to our immortal souls."
"O you heroes! O you heroic munis! The goddess Shivaramani (salvation) is waiting for you on Siddhashila with a garland in her hands. You must not act in such a way as you would be ashamed of your action. You should not bow your heads in shame afterwards. You must discard your attachment for the samsar, and you must adore Nirvan which brings you immortal felicity and serenity. You must decide upon spending your time in spiritual contemptation. That will be your provision for your spiritual journey. This is the final precept of your Gurumaharaj. You must always bear this in your minds. Well! I bid you all farewell."
Then, suddenly, Skandakacharya's voice was choked with emotion. He shuddered when he imagined the terrible calamity that was going to overcome him and his disciples but he restrained himself. We can escape the decrees of destiny? He folded his hands and recited an auspicious hymn of benediction.
Just then Palak came there. His men prepared the crusher and he decided to crush the munis to death.
"Get up. Get ready all of you!" Palak said bursting into a fit of arrogant laughter and waving his whip in the air.
"Oh you fool, we are always ready to embrace death. Wherever we may be wandering we always keep welcoming death."
Inspired by the words of Acharya Skandak all the munis got ready to face death. Their faces were radiant with courage and composure. There was no sign of fear or gloom in their faces. Skandakacharya slowly approached the crusher and he said in a lofty voice:
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