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by multitudes of elephants, --which was pacifying the hearts of forelorn young seinales terrified by the mass of flashing lightening and which was coupled with the loud noise of delighted pea-cocks,-could not frighten him. The autumn-capable of making royal swaus stained by the pollen of expanded day-lotus or night locus, capable of beautyfiing the surface of the earth by the wealth of ripe-crop of corn, and capable also of makiug the directions fragrant by the excellent perfume of flowers of Sapta. cchada (seven-leaved-tree-Alstonia Scholaris), regembling the smell of rut juice of elephants could not shake the mind of Sramāņa Bhagavān. Mahāvira. The mind of Sramaņa Bhagavān Malāvîra was perfectly steady during hémanta (the period of Märgaśirşa and Poşa- (November and December) in wbich the locality of the forest was rendered red by the blossoms of Asokabcaring flowers, and there was an inference of a village on account of the confused noice of kinkelli ( aśoka ) trembling by the devastation of forest done by joyful depraved low castes. Also, the sisira (coid season corrprising the monthe of Māgha aud Pbālguna )-in which travellers were sleeping near fires kept blazing respectfully at various places by way-farers trembling by the cold wind mixed with particles of snow, and in which the portion of the forest is making fun by loud laughter of expanding towers.--could not cool down the firm resolution of Sranand Bhayavan Małävira. In this way, all the six seasons could not produce any change in the mind of the Venerable Bhagavau who was deepiy engrossed in religious ineditation.
Śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvira now, came to Vānijya-gáma, and remained in Kayotsarga ( perfect relinquishment of body ) outside the village. In that village, there lived a Sravaka (a devotee of Jinéśvaras ) named Ananda. He was constantly observ. ing a fasting of days' duration at a time. By the supernatural power of that penance, Ananda attained Avadhi jñāna. On seeing Śramana. Bhagavāni Mahāvīra iz Käyotsarga, he approached the Venerable Tîrthankara with great devotion, and having bowed down low at his lotus-like feet he said :-- 0 Bhagavān! You suffered unendwable troubles for a long time. Ad! your adam
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