Jain Satyaprakash 1936 11 12 SrNo 16 17

Author(s): Jaindharm Satyaprakash Samiti - Ahmedabad
Publisher: Jaindharm Satyaprakash Samiti Ahmedabad

Page 87

1663
Lord Mahavira
R09
to help them and acted accordingly. The quality of polite manners remaining concealed in the heart of Nayasāra becomes thus clearly manifest then. Wise men have given a prominent place to the virtue. A W behaved man acting discretely, benefits himself at every time, at every place and from every work on account of that virtuous quality.
When Nayasārs and the Sadhus arryied at the main road to the town, the chief of the party of Sādhus sitting under a tree explained to him the essence of the true religion. Hearing the preaching of the Sadhu, Nayasāra considered himself very fortunate and from that time onwards, he acquired Samyaktva (217459) i.e. firm belief in the doctrines and teachings of the Tithankaras. The soul of Nayasāra was getting purified from the time of the mid-day meal, that parity was greatly enhanced by the preaching of the Sadhu and bore fruit in the form of Samyaktva. Dana (El) Duty of alms-giving, Shila ( a ) Morality, Tapa (ay) Penance and Bhāva ( 14 ) Endurance constitute the path to Liberation (1991). Out of the five kinds of Dāna ( Eld )- Abhaya Dāna ( 34 ) Giving safety to one's life, Süpātra Dana ( MEH ) Giving of alms to worthy persons, 3. Anukampa Dāna ( Metyl €14) Giving out of compassion, 4. Uohita Dāna (fideld) Giving of dowries etc. to family members and 5. Kirti Dāna ( $dela ) Gifts etc. given for the spread of one's fame, Abhaya Dāna and Sūpätra Dana are motive elements in the attainment of Final Liberation. The opportunity of giving alms to worthy ascetics occurs to persons whose deliverance from transmigression is near. Indeed Dāna ( Eld ).-the virtue of giving away-gifts, food, drink etc.-is a very valuable quality of the soul. The virtue of giving Dāna ( Elt) helped immensely Bhagavāna Rishabhadeva, the first Tirthankara, and Shramana Bhagavāna Mahāvira, the last Tirthankara of the present series of Twentyfour Tirthnkaras in raising their soul to a very high level, and was instrumental eventually in acquiring for them, the exalted status of Tirthankara. Only lucky persons meet with a combination of wealth acquired with fair means, the virtue of giving gifts etc. and the opportunity of giving food, drink etc. to worthy ascetics. Happy are the souls who bave lucky opportunities of meeting with such esteemable combinations.
A brief sketch of the Events of the Third Previous Life
The first Tirthankara of the prosent series Bhagavāna Shree Rishabhadeva was the king of Vinitā ( Carlat ). The soul of Nayasāra coming down from Saudharma heaven (Muzaqi ) on completion of his life limit as a god, was born as a son to Bharata Chakravarti, the son of Bhagaväva Shree Rishabha-deva. He was named Marichi.