________________
190
Thinking himself in great distress, Marici thought "O i these Sādhūs are cruel. They do not even pay any attention to me. 01 They are careful about accomplishing their own business. 01 all of them are indifferent to popular usage. 01 they are fond of filling their own bellies. Because, although they are benevolent, well-acquainted, initiated at the hands of the same Guru, have lived with me, have been oonnected by the sameness of religious observances, and although they are constantly busy in seizing the virtuous qualities of others, they do not even take the trouble of looking towards me with an affectionate eye.
"Or, these ideas of mine are not reasonable. Because, these worthy saints have no affection even for their own bodies, and 30, how can they attend to the medicinal treatment of one who is devoid of any vows ? Hence, if, I am now cured of my serious illness, I will, with my own hands, give Dikşā to any one who is desirous of taking it, because, it is difficult to bear hardships of living alone."
As Fate so desired it, and with the partial destruction of deater Vedaniya Karma,-the Karma of experiencing auspicious or inauspicious actions,-and as he was to remain as a Parivrājaka mendicant for a long time, and also, as his disease had become alleviated and he had completely regained his usual strength, Marfoi began to wander about to different places.
Kapila.
One day, when Marici Parivrājaka was preaching on religious subjects, a prince named fe Kapıla, came to him. When Marici explained him ar Sadhū Dharma,-the duties of an ascetic,chiefly dependent on the careful observance of the Five Great Vows, associated with tranquility of the mind, and other virtuous qualities, sanctified with restraint over the pleasures of the five senses, and entirely capable of giving the most excellent fruit i, e. Atari Mokşa Mārga, the Path of Final Emancipation, Kapila said, O worthy master! You seem to be strange by
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
