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King Ardraka had formed friendship with King Śrónika of Magadha-déśa. One day, King Śrènika sent one of his ministers to Ardraka-desa with some presents for King Ardraka. There; King Srénik's minister was highly respected and very hospitably treated. On seeing the close friendship of King Śréņika with his own father, Ārdra Kumāra asked the minister with the idea of contracting, friendly relations with one of King Śrénik's sons :‘Has King Śréņika any son or not? I like to have friendship with him' The minister naming Abhaya Kumâra as one of King Śrénik's most intelligent sons, extoiled with an open heart the highly eminent qualities of the heart and soul of Abhaya Kum. ära. Although Ārdra Kumāra was born in a Non-āryan country, he became greatly enamoured with the highly vi tuous qualities of Abhaya Kumāra, and he sent some presents to Abhaya Kum. āra with the object of forming friendship with him. On his return back, the minister gave the presents from Ārdra Kumāra, to Abhaya Kumāra. Abhaya Kumāra had a deep knowledge of some of the noble Principles of the Jaina Religion.
Highly intelligent Abhaya Kumāra at once thought-'It seems to me that this prince-Ardra Kumāra is a highly religious man capable of attaining Salvation in futire but that he has been born in a Non-āryan country because he may have put obstructions in the path of Sādhus-who may be practising their religious duties, during his previous life. Because a miserable man who is never to attain Sālvation or one who can attain it with much difficulty cannot aspire to contract friendship with me. Friendly relations. usually take place with persons of similar good or evil Karmas. Usually individual temperaments must be identical. Priendship is formed and it beconies long-lasting, only when there exists & similarity of age, fundamental qualities (sattva, rajas, tamas), as well as, a similarity of deliberate thinking: A noble idea of bring ing Ardra Kumâra to Bhārata-varsa (Union of Hind; India ) and of making him advance on the Progressive Stages of Spiritual Elevation after instructing him in the Principles of the True Religion, preached by the Tîrthankaras, arose in the mind of Abhaya
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