________________
104
Appearing beautiful like a great Asoka tree on account of his excellent fingers, and pleasing to the mind of the entire pa pulace, Marfci eventually grew up to youth.
Dikṣa of Marici Kumāra. On seeing the splendour of the miracles such as Asoka Vriksa, Puspa Vristi etc created in the Samavasarana of Bhagavān Sri Risabha Swani by the gods of four kinds, and on hearing his preaching resembling the flow of nectar in peacefully removing all the doubts in relation to the nature of objects of the past, present, and future, and on realizing this worldly existence to be as fickle as the movements of the ears of an elephant, on considering the pleasures of association with lotus-eyed young females as well-blossomed large poison-creepers; on knowing the affectionate relationship of loving individuals to be as mo mentary as the Aashing of an untimely lightening, and at a time when he had an intense longing for developing the True Religion, Marici Kumara took totala faut Bhāgavati Dikṣā, the Initiation preached by the Tiratbankaras, with great pomp at the hands of his grand-father.
Now, having commenced the duties of an ascetic in right earnest, Marici Muni, exclusively devoted to the observance of the five kinds of Metts Acāras,-customary rules of conduct (for an ascetic), exceedingly careful with regard to the five afafers Samitis, Correct ways of behaviour on various occasions, three kinds of the Guptis, Control over mind, speech, and body, and with regard to the strict observance of the five stars MahāVratas, great vows ( of an ascetio ); devoid of interest for his own body; abandoning greed like Ratna-Vanika throwing away the heap of iron; agreeable to others like an ocean to the croco dile, being himself free from pride; capable of removing vioes of others like the Sun dispelling the darkness of the night; maintaining patience like the FITTET Nāgarāja, the Serpent-king, bolding the earth on his head; the destroyer of the four Passions, like Mount Mandara ohurning the poean; the exploiter of difficult
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
