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55. भगवान महावीर का इन्द्रभूति को ज्ञान मार्ग बनाता
उस प्रकार चर्चा विषय में बैठे हुए ऋत्विज महावीर के प्रति और महत्व को देखने के लिए उत्सुक हुए। पहले गौतम इन्द्रभूति अपने ५०० शिष्यों के साथ यज्ञ शाला से समवशरण की ओर चल पड़े। गौतम इन्द्रभूति अपने शिष्यों के साथ वहाँ पहूँचते समय ‘समवशरण' देवताओं के आगमन से प्रकाशयुक्त हो उठा। स्वामी जी एक विशाल (बड़े) कमल पर पद्मासन लगाये बैठे थे। श्वेत वर्ण के शरीर वाले स्वामी के मुष्करानेसे उनका मुख-प्रकाश देखने वालों को दिव्यानुभूति प्राप्त हो रही थी। गौतम इन्द्रभूति अभी तक ऐसा प्रशान्त स्थान को ऐसी दिव्यमंगल मूर्ति को नहीं देखा था। स्वामी जी को देखते ही उसका सारा घमंड चूर चूर (चूकनाचूर) हो गया । उसी समय स्वामी “गौतम ! आओ' ऐस कहकर गौतम को बुलाया। स्वामी जी के सुमधुर शब्द ने गौतम इन्द्रभूति को चरणाक्रान्त कर दिया। इसके बाद स्वामी ने जीव या आत्मा के सम्बन्ध में सविस्तार बताया। यह सुनते ही गौतम इन्द्रभूति अपने ५०० शिष्यों सहित स्वामी के निर्णयानुसार श्रमण सम्प्रदाय में शामिल होकर उनका प्रमुख शिष्य बन गया।
55 THE GRANTING OF JNANA TO INDRABHUTI GAUTAMA BY SHRAMANA
BHAGAWAN MAHAVIRA
The Rithviks who thus fell to discussion and debate among themselves, finally decided to test the greatness and the magical powers of Shramana Bhagawan Mahavira. The first to issue forth from out of the Yajnasala was Gauthama Indrabhuti followed by his 500 disciples. When he approached Shramana Bhagawan Mahavira along with his disciples, Indrabhuti saw that the whole place looked attractive beyond measure with the arrival of the heavenly hosts. The Swami was seated in the posture of Padmasana on a giant lotus. The onlookers were gifted with a divine bliss at the sight of the Swami whose face was lit up by a smile and from whose body a radiant white light and Divine Sound - Divya Dhvani - emanated. Never was Gauthama Indrabhuti a witness to such a sanctifying sight. The whole area was calm and peaceful and the Swami himself was a picture of divine beauty. A look at the Swami was enough to dispel the ego of Gauthama Indrabhuti. The Swami looked at Indrabhuti and, addressing him by his full name, asked him to go nearer to him “Come here, Gauthama Indrabhuti”, said the Swami and this was enough to send Indrabhuti sprawling upon the ground at the feet of the Swami in absolute obeisance. The Swami then explained to Gauthama Indrabhuti the true nature of Jiva or Atman (the permanence and essence of Jiva) in a brief manner. Gauthama Indrabhuti was convinced of the exposition of the Swami and, along with his 500 disciples, became the disciple of the Swami (the chief one at that) and thus came to follow the tradition of the Shramanas.
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