________________
404
people suffering from various diseases suddenly become young like Cupid by the touch only of the dust of his lotus-like feet, and people consider themselves capable of removing the dust of sinful acts like the sacred waters of the places of pilgrimage, only by his presence. Young persons who are ashamed of doing respectful salutation to their fathers on account of irresistible pride, repeatedly bow down at his lotus-like feet. All these town people are going to the pleasure-garden to pay homage to the worshipful ācārya, O Lord! you should also have a glance at his lotus-like feet." Out of curiosity, the king went in the direction of the pleasure-garden. Getting down from his elephant at some distance, the king did respectful salutations, with great devotion to the ācārya and took his seat on the ground near him. The ācārya knowing his suitablity by divine knowledge, began to preach with a speech of deep thought as
follows:
O King! In the first place, in this Samṣāra, birth as a human being is difficult to obtain. Good family, bandsome appearance, and healthy body, are more difficult. A kingdom with excellent elephants, horses, warriors, chariots, and imperishable treasury, and also with feudatory princes at one's beck and call in time of danger, is hard to attain. Besides, association and discussion with learned men clever in sastras and indifferent to wordly pleasures, are almost impossible to obtain, O King! as a consequence of meritorious acts you have already acquired all these. You should, therefore, abstain from killing of animals in all particulars, and you should give special attention to the following subjects-Practice of well-balancd justice, acquisition of virtuous qualities, compassion to distressed persons, abstinence from whatever is contrary to morality and. religious principle, anxiety about evil consequences during the next life, frailty of worldly objects, and indifference to worldly objects."
On hearing the preaching of the learned ācārya, the king and all the town-people were greatly delighted; and having again respected him, all of them went away. The king, having gone
Jain Education International
For Private Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
