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256
JAIN RAMAYAN
tune has befallen me! When they visited my house, instead of honouring them, I ill-treated them and turned them away. I even scoffed at them. I entertained wrong notions about them. I committed a grave sin in thus insulting them. Oh! What will happen to me ?” The merchant was filled with grief and repentance.
"Revered Lord! Is there any atonement for my unpardonable sin ?” said Arhad Datta, overcome with grief and repentance.
“There is only one way. You must go to Mathura and seek their pardon.”
In consequence, Arhad Datta set off to Mathura on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, accompanied by the members of his family. After reaching Mathura, he worshipped the Lord in the magnificent temple there; and then went to the great Munis. He saluted their feet and said in a humble manner;
"Oh you revered Munis! I am a sinner...a wretch from Ayodhya. When you visited my house and sought Biksha I, in sheer ignorance, ill-treated you. I entertained many doubts regarding you. I scoffed at you and dishonoured you. I committed a great sin. I realized this only after I learnt from Acharyashri Dhyuti that you were great Munis. I gathered a terrible kind of sinful karma by thus ill-treating you. Hence I entreat you to pardon me; and to free me from my sinful karma."
The great Munis pardoned the merchant and spoke to him compassionately. Later, the merchant returned to Ayodhya.
"The calamity that had befallen Mathura disappeared because of the spiritual powers of the Munis. The people were completely rid of the pestilence."
On hearing all this, Shatrughna proceeded to Mathura; and as soon as arriving there, he went to offer his devotion to the seven sages. He entreated them to have food at his palace. But
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