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434
JAIN RAMAYAN
"You are indeed blessed. We shall pursue the path of Charitradharma and carry out endeavours to attain salvation. We will attain spiritual progress. At the same time, we would have set to others a lofty example of renunciation and selfsacrifice."
Hanuman welcomed the decision of the Kings and congratulated them upon their decision, Shwetakirti stood up and said.
"O you lord of compassion! We are determined to adopt the Sadhudharma along with you but we require some time for it. We have to inform our relatives and friends of our decision. We have to inform our ministers of our decision and request them to crown our sons Kings in our places. We have to hand over our Kingdoms to our sons. Therefore, if the day of our initiation is postponed a little, it will be highly convenient to all and it will take place without any impediment."
King Shwetakirti's suggestion was absolutely proper. Therefore, Hanuman gave them a week's time. The meeting ended. Every King sent information to his ministers by his messenger and soon the news of the decision of the Kings and princes reached their Kingdoms. Large crowds of people gathered at Hanupur. The relatives and friends of all the Kings came to Hanupur.
Hanuman conveyed to Acharya Dharmaratnasoori, the information relating to the decision of the seven hundred and fifty Kings to adopt the Sadhudharma. The Acharya bestowed his blessings upon them and agreed to carry out the initiation ceremony, a few days later.
The families of all the Kings arrived at Hanupur. Each King explained to his family his decision to renounce the samsar and in consequence, the queens of all those Kings decided to renounce the samsar and in consequence, the queens of all those Kings decided to adopt the Charitradharma.
"How great is this relationship between the husband and the wife! How unique! They shared and enjoyed worldly delights and now they decided to share spiritual delights too. They all
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