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covered with the dust from the feet of Sadhus going out for urination and coming in, during the night. He may have received slight kicks un-intentionally from Sädhus groping in the darkness of the night. Such a feat was a severe one, on the first night of his ascetic life, for a son of the mighty King Śréņika of Magadlia Déśa-who was rolling in luxurious royal beds from his very birth.
Megha Kumāra Muni could not get the slightest sleep during the whole night. He thought :- Where is my luxurious royal bed ? How long should I thus roll in mud ? When I was in my royal palace, these Sâdhus used to salute me, give me hospitable reception, show mark of honour to-waru's me and they were addressing me with very polite words. But now that I am no longer a prince and have become a recluse like themselves, they do not show the slightest courtsey towards me, but on the contrary, they harass me by repeatedly treading on my bedding, and they did not allow me to have the slightest sleep during the whole night. In the morning, with the permission of Gramaņa Bhagavăn Mahāvira, I will return home."
With such ideas in his mind, Megha Kumăra Muni, any how passed the night. Early in the morning he went to śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvîra, who, reading the thoughts uppermost in Mégha Kumār's mind, at once, told him :- O Mégha ! It seems, you did not get any sleep at night. Your rank for the present, being low, in such a big congregation of Sādhús, your seat would be at the end, and it is possible that you may not get sleep by the going out and coming in, of numerous Sädhûs from near your bed. You have nothing to be worried or grieved at.
Because,
You may not remember, but I know it full well that during your third previsous bhava (life), you were living in the level ground of Mount Vaitadiya as Suméru-prabha-the king of numerous elephants; you had numerous beloved female ele
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