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Lord Mahavira
sense” Gautama was wonderstruck. He replied : “You are an egotist. You should never try to disparage the knowledge of ascetics. You must accept retribution for your egregious lie before the Master.
Ananda said : "Good sir ! I am in quandary. Who is to repent ? One who speaks the truth or the one who refuses to believe it?” Gautama narrated the incident to the Master, and the Lord said : “Gautama, you have erred. Go and beg pardon of Ananda. Who is on the right path. He has been enlightened.” The Lord continued : “Beloved is he to me, who is humble and submissive. Gautama, truth knows no barriers of asceticism or worldliness, or nobility or serfdom, of intelligence or rusticism. It dawns on the deserved.”
The asceticism of Mahâvîra was unparalleled. He loved truth and was ready to sacrifice everything to safeguard it.
Arjuna, a gardener went with his wife to a temple and importuned the god for divine favours. Some youths who also came there had badeye on his beautiful wife and planned to molest her. As soon as Arjuna got out, they fell on him and shackled him. They forced the good lady to yield to their lecherous demands. She protested, but in vain Arjuna saw this ghastly deed and his indignation rose to white heat, he was energised by the deity of the temple. He broke the shackles with all his might and rushed at the youths and killed them all along with his wife and at the same time took on oath to kill six men and one woman every day. He continued his murders for nearly six months. Hundreds of men and women fell victim to his wrath.
Mahâvîra happened to visit that place. People were going to pay their respects to the Lord Sudarshan, a man of strong will, was also on his way to the Lord. As soon as Arjuna noticed him passing, he rushed forward to kill the man. But to his utter surprise his strength failed him. He stood like a lifeless doll. Sudarshan's soul force had subdued his brute force and turned him replete with love and sympathy. Introced by Sudarshan Arjuna, in whom love had manifested itself, fell at the feet of Lord Mahâvîra and repented for his senseless murders. The Lord embraced him and accepted him as one of his disciples. Arjuna became an ascetic. He went out for Bhiksha. As the people
