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154
JAINA STORIES
a living person; not for one who is in the jaws of death. So do not worry about it."
Bankachula—"Sir! I do not care for my life. One day, I must die Why then do I deyiate from my path ? I am not prepared to face the outcome consequent upon the breaking of the vow.”
When all the arguments and inducements by the king had failed, he sent for Bankachula's friend Jioadas On his way to Ujjain, Jinadas came across two nymphs who were weeping He asked them about the cause of their trouble. Said the nymphs,
"We are the denigens of Saudharma-kalpa Our lord has gone out from there on completion of his life-span, and we are unable to live alone So we have come to invite Bankachula if he agrees to live with us But, sir, our plans will fail through if you are successful in ipducing your friend to take the crow's meat. It is for this that we weep"
Jinadas consoled the goddesses and assured them that he would try to help them, so far as he could
Jinadas met his friend Bankachula and advised the king as follows.
“Sır ! The only cure for him now is to remain firm on his path. We should stop applying all cures so that he may spend the remaining portion of his life in quiet and peace.”
Bankachula now made a final request to his friend,
“If you have got any affection for me, then, administer prescriptions to me that may help me in my final moments I need not anything else”
Jipadas helped him in his last moments and did what was expected of a true friend Badkachula was thus rid of all attachments Then be undertook a fast upto death, adored the four 'refuges', remembered the five 'great souls', decried his past evils, forgave all living beings and begged to be forgiven by them. Thus he attained a celestial abode is very high Tegiods.
On bis way bach, Jipadas came across the same nymphs who were still weeping Said he
