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INTRODUCTION
• This and other interpretations calculated to bring the erring to the right path, profoundly impressed the mind of Siddhasena. He at once understood that he could have been no other person than his preceptor who alone was able to interpret the verse in such an able manner. He at once recognised his preceptor and humbly fell at his feet asking his pardon for trangressing his words of advice through his own folly. Thereupon the preceptor said, " I have thoroughly initiated you into Jaina philosophy but even you could not digest the profound principles of this philosophy, why then talk of other ordinary mortals ? I advise you therefore, to meditate upon this philosophy for some years more It was but proper on the part of the presiding deity of the pillar to snatch the miraculous book from your hands, for there are very few unselfish persons who can digest the mystic lore." Upon this, Siddhasena said to his preceptor," Oh lord. if disciples like myself would not ever go astray, there will be no utility of the Prayascitta Sastra. Now I have really committed a sin. show me some proper Prāyaścitta". The preceptor then asked him to undergo a fitting Prāyaścitta, reinstituted him on the seat of Ācārya and himself went to heaven. Divā kara then in his capacity of Ācārya went on his religious tours for the glorification of the Jainism throughout the length and breadth of India.
From his very boyhood Siddhasena was a student of Samsksta language. Having naturally a predilection for Saṁskṛta and a scant respect for the Prāksla dilect in his own mind, he contemplated translating the then existing
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