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Lord Mahâvîra: A Revolutionary
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and deeply engrossed himself in planning a strategem. But suddenly a beam of light flashed into his mind, and he bowed at the feet of Mahâvîra and prayed. "Sir, I am in a quandary. I know not how to solve it. I want to conquer all my rivals. Show me the path.' The Lord spoke to him, "Oh King! Let truth be with you. Realise that affluence can never be cowed by affluence. That is the path of vying. It makes one envious. If you really desire to triumph over the feeling awake and resolve to tread the thorny path of renunciation. True renunciation consists in regarding nothing as one's own. Abandon, renounce and you will come out victorious. The true path of emancipation is renunciation. Give up everything and then you will find that the whole wealth of the universe rolls under your feet. One who renounces establishes his superiority over the whole world. Renunciation engenders non-attachment, which ensures true and eternal peace and tranquility. Material affluence begets mirthless apotheosis of enjoyment. It is of no avail. Wake up, give up and come into my fold. You will find that you have become an oasis of peace amidst the arid desert of existence." Udrayana at once renounced everything and turned ascetic. Now the rival king stood confounded and humbly bowed down before the royal monk, lately King of Sindhu-souvira.
It was late in the evening, when a man was climbing up a hill. He was alone. Suddenly he saw a dreadful apparition fast approaching. He was afraid of its shadow. He began to tremble. He was completely overpowered by the fear of a ghost and was thrown into consternation for a while.
But his terror was relieved as the figure came nearer. He was pleasantly surprised to notice that it was no other than a man like him. It was Mahâvîra. The man recognised him and bowed low at his feet. He told him all about the fear he had experienced only a few minutes earlier.
Lord Mahâvîra said: "You were afraid of my shadow. The deceptive evening light had distorted its shape. Thus you took me to be a ghost. Remember shadows are always deceptive. They delude the world. This universe is full of such delusion. Our senses never lead us to reality. They are faulty. Never rely on them. Try to search the truth beyond the senses. Truth will be infallible then."
