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310
JAIN RAMAYAN
Sita observed Siddartha carefully and found out that he was a man of extraordinary attainments. She extended to him an honourable welcome :
"Revered Lord! I feel blessed to have met you. Kindly tell me who you are.” Siddhartha told Sita all about himself She was greatly delighted to hear it. Then, as desired by Siddhartha, Sita told him all about herself. The noble woman told him everything without any reservation.
Hearing the story of Sita's life, Siddhartha said :
"Revered lady! Please do not give way to grief. What is the use of grieving over misfortunes thus ? Why should a woman who has such radiant sons as Lav and Kush grieve over anything ? Your sons are heroic. They possess extraordinary virtues and talents. Actually they are like Ram and Lakshman. It is certain that your innate aspirations will be fulfilled. You need not have any doubt regarding this."
Siddharth had mastered the shastras relating to omens, called Ashtanga. As soon as he looked at Lav and Kush he could divine that they had a splendid future. Therefore he revealed only a glimpse of their splendid future. Sita felt supremely delighted and elated to hear this. She heaved a sigh of relief and said :
"O you revered sage! If you really admire these children and if you desire to shape their future, you kindly stay here and give them proper instructions and guidance."
"Revered lady! I have already told you that I am a Siddha. I cannot stay anywhere for a long time but I keep flying through the sky to the Meru mountain to worship the Jin temples there. When that is the case, how can I stay here ?"
"Until now you have carried out many such pilgrimages. You have spent much of your time in visiting Jin temples and in worshipping Jin images. You are also an ocean of knowledge. Would you not bestow a part of your knowledge on others ? Would you not bestow that treasure upon others? If you think
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