Risabha Deva

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 49

WORLD-FLIGHT AND SANNYASA
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of one and the same soul! Who said that the lot of woman in Jainism was hopeless? Sreyansa knew it to be otherwise !
Full of affectionate devotion, Śreyansa now proceeded to offer the refreshiug juice of the sugar cane to the WORLD TEACHER, in the approved way, which he now recollected fully. There are many kirids of gifts which people make to one another ; but of all of them the gift of food to a true saint is the most meritorious, and as the Tirthamnkara is the greatest of all saints, the giving of food to bim with a pure lieart that is illumined with the light of Juana (knowledge divine) and filled with reverence and devotion for the Ideal is the most meritorious of all. The devas witnessed the sight from the upper air, and rained down fragrant water, heavenly flowers and small gems on the assembly. They uttered loud shouts of victory! victory” and beat the heavenly drums!
Risabha Deva strolled away again into the forests. after the partaking of the ikshu-rasa (the sugarcane juice). All assembled praised Śreyānsa for his keen intelligence in finding out what was to be done on such an occasion and in succeeding where others had failed. Even Bharata came down fro:n Ajudhya to congratulate him. To them Śreyānsa related his previous history and that of the WORLD TEACHER. They were all filled with wonder, and understood the reality of Life--surely, Just thou art to dust returnest, was never said of the soul!'
People now understood the manner in which food