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the one who serves the ill and the miserable, serves me and the one who serves me serves the ill and the miserable.”
Comments - In this conversation between Bhagvān Mahāvīra and His principal disciple Gañadhara Gautama the service rendered to the sick has been reckoned as equivalent to worshipping the Lord, probably even more than that.
Ātmaprayojanapara eva jāyate svādhyāyameva kurvan! Vaiyávrtyakarastu svaṁ paraṁ coddharati manyet II
- Bhagavati Ārādhanā, 329. That is, - One who undertakes self-study does well by himself only while the one who undertakes an act of service does well by himself as well as the others.
“Veyāvaccepan Bhante! Jive kim japayai?”
"Veyāvaccenam titthayaranāmagottam kammam nibandhai !" - Uttarādhyayana sūtra, 29.45.
“Lord! What does a soul gain by rendering noble service?”
"By rendering noble service a soul bonds Tirthankara body making and status giving karmic bonds."
Comments - This conversation indicates the bonding of Tīrthankara body making and status giving karmic bonds as a result of rendering noble service and highlights the importance of vaiyāvrtya (service) KARMIC REDUCTION THROUGH VAIYĀVĢTYA
(SERVICE) Sattīe bhattīe vijijāvaccujjadā sayā hoi| ĀŅãe nijjareti ya sabāla-uddhāule gacche II
- Bhagavati Ārādhanā, 304. That is, - In a monastic group with young and old monks one who devotedly serves up to his utmost capacity and obeys the commands earns karmic reduction and destruction.
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