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Sita's Poorvajanma
397
rate him. They rushed forward to salute his feet and to have a glimpse of his sublime face.
This is the way of the world. People condemn a man at one
ent and the very next moment, they commend him. At one moment, they adore him and the next moment they abhor him but sadhus and saints do not care for praise or blame. Adoration does not elate them and denigration does not depress him. They retain their equanimity under all circumstances. They always remain absorbed in spiritual contemplation. Generally, the world looks at the external aspect of a person's life and judges him on that basis. The munis who are fully aware of the ignorant ways of the world remain undisturbed by the way in which the world treats them. They experience neither joy nor sorrow and remain calm and serene.
Vegavati became a Jain Shravika. She acquired mental firmness and emotional equanimity on account of the awakening that the muni brought about in her. Her infatuation disappeared and she grew wise and sensible. The Mahamuni preached to her lofty spiritual doctrines with a feeling of equanimity and impelled her to pursue the path of spiritual elevation. The hearts of munis are generally plain and magnanimous. They always give and they never receive anything.
Vegavati, of course, became a noble shravika and she became beautiful again but an unexpected calamity descended upon her.
Vegavati's beauty and physical grace had made many youngsters sleepless with infatuation. If Vegavati merely glanced at them, they felt thrilled and delighted. But they could not do anything about it. Once prince Vajrakant happened to see her. The very sight of her filled him with infatuation. He said to his guard ;
"Do you know who this beautiful damsel is ?”
"Dear prince! She is the daughter of our court-priest. Her name is Vegavati. She is unmarried,” the guard said smil
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