________________
36
RIŞABHA DEVA
be had by severe asceticism, by non-Jainas and by the Right Faith alone even when unaccompanied by austerities, by the Jainas. The lovers of the past three lives now become intimate friends, and find much joy in each other's company. Their lives are spent in the usual manner of deva-life. They worship the Lord Arhant, and spend their time enjoying the heavenly pleasures.
When Saint Pritamkara succeeded in destroying his qhatiyā (obstructive) karmas by his tapaścharana, the devas came down to worship him, and among them came Sridhara. He learnt on enquiry from the Saint, who had now become omniscient, the pitiable fate of his remaining three ministers of a former life when he was Mahābala. Mabāmati and Sambhinnamati had sunk back into Nigoda which was involved in impenetrable darkness, and Satimati had gone to the second hell. Sridhara felt much pity for them, though two of them were quite beyond his reach and help. He determined to help Satamati. Accordingly one day he descended into the second hell and sought out Satamati to whom he revealed their former identity. Their meeting was very pathetic. Satamati was overwhelmed with sorrow, and eagerly listened to Sridhara's advice. He now readily believed the teaching of truth,
