________________
388
JAIN RAMAYAN
The Muni's words filled Dhan Dutt with a new feeling of serenity. In the morning, the Muni explained to him the duties of a Shravak. Dhan Dutt humbly accepted the Shravak Dharma and spent the remainder of his life in accordance with the principles of Shravak Dharma. After his death he was born as a heavenly being in the Saudharma heaven.
On account of the noble and elevating influence of the Sadhus and of his own spiritual endeavours he was able to get rid of his excessive attachment for Gunavati and his animosity against Shrikant. He discarded his attachments and hatred. His heart became an ocean of equanimity. In consequence, he was born in the heavenly world and remained there for countless years experiencing inordinate joys and delights.
We cannot divine the ways of Destiny which seems to take a malacious or mischievous delight in sporting with the lives of human beings. Dhan Dutt who was disappointed in his desire to secure Gunavati, feared the samsar and attained deliverance from it while Vasu Dutt who committed a terrible sin for the sake of his elder brother had to fall into the bottomless abyss of worldly existence and keep wandering there. Dhan Dutt attained the heavenly state of existence while Vasu Dutt had to experience inordinate anguish and agitations in hell and in the animal state of existence.
After the span of his life in heaven ended, Dhan Dutt was born in the city of Mahapurnagar. He took birth as the son of a merchant by name Padmaruchi. His father and mother were highly cultured and religious. In consequence, he acquired even in his childhood, sound spiritual training, excellent virtues like kindness and compassion. He was always ready to remove the anguish of any jiva. Even after he entered the phase of youth, he was free from infatuation, pride and arrogance. One day, he went on horseback towards the place where his cattle were grazing. On the way, he happened to see an old bullock which was on the point of death. He was greatly moved to see it. He could not bear with the decrepit bullock. He alighted from his horse; he went silently towards the bullock and recited the Namaskar Mahamantra in its ear.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
