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607
Mahāvîra and he left off all his former dealings Believer.
as
a
False
On seeing this change in the behaviour of Lėpa Śreşthi, his friends and acquaintances, told hini :-"Abi Lépa ! You are a fool. Why there is a change in your thoughts. Having left off your hereditory custom, what have you done p" They, now, began to censure all his good actions. However, Lépa Śrésthi was not at all moved by their gerrulous talks He was very firm in the observance of the vows taken by him. At last, his former Guru Śivabhūti came to Rājagriha Nagara, with the object of change ing his views, but Lépa Srāsthî did not go to him even out of formal courtsey. When his Guru Śivabhūti sent some of his pupils to Lépa Śrésthi saying that he was wanted by the Guru, Lépa Śrésthi told them :--He, who accurately knows the nature of the Loka ( Universe ) pervaded with the Six Varieties of Living Beings including Prithvi Kāya, Ap Kîya etc, and the six Varieties of Dravyas, who preaches the noble principles for the eleva. tion and purification of the Soul, and who also clearly advises the adoption of these noble principles in daily life is called a Guru ( preceptor ), and I adore him as my Guru. Others cannot deserve to be a Guru Why does your Guru call me ? If you require corn, money, fruits ctc, for your Guru, there is plenty here You can take anything you require. Formerly, I was giving you tubers, roots, and blanieworthy vegetables of cheap value but now I can offer you very harmless and expensive articles. My present Guru does not prohibit Anu-kampa Dăna (giving out of compassion ). You should never censure the Religion preached by the Jinéśvaras in my presence.
On hearing this reply of Lépa Śréşthî, the pupils of Sivabhfti returned to the house of Sivabhūti and gave him the account of Lépa Śrésthi, Śivabhati himself, then, went to the house of Lépa Śrésthi but Lépa Srèsthi did not respect him as his Guru. Śivabhâti was greatly enraged and he told Lépa Śrésthi :-'0 Śrèşthin ! By what rogue have you been cheated that you did
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