________________
126
When, however, Pandita Acalabhrātā approached Śramapa Bhagavan Mahavira with the object of removing his doubt, he was addressed thus:
अथ पुण्ये सन्दिग्धं द्विजमचलभ्रातरं विबुधमुख्यम् । ऊचे विभ्रुर्यथास्थं वेदार्थे किं न भावयसि १ ॥ १ ॥
1. Atha punyé sandigdham dvijamacalabrātaram vibudha mukhyam;
Ucè vibhu-r-yathāstham Vèdārtham kim na bhāvayasi }
1. The Lord (Śramana Bhagavān Mahāvīra) told the Brahmana learned man Acalabhrātā who had a doubt about g Punya,-The reward of meritorious work-" Why do you not trace out the exact meaning of the verses of the Védas?
Jain Education International
Śramaņa Bhagavan Mahāvīra then removed his doubt by explaining the correct interpretation of the verses of the Vedas and by explaining that the reward of meritorious work and the evil consequences of wicked actions, are clearly evident even in this world, and they are well-known to persons knowing the ways of the world. Long life, health, handsome appearance, birth in noble families etc are the reward of meritorious work. Short lite, ill-health, ugliness, poverty, miseries of various diseases, birth in low families etc are the evil consequences of wicked actions. In this world, one man is born as a king, while another is born as a beggar; one is possessed of excellent body with all the senses fully-developed, while another has ill-developed delicate body, with some of the senses wanting or not developed at all; one man is very lucky and rolling in wealth and prosperity, while another is penniless and has hardly a morsel of food to eat; one is very healthy and never suffers from any pain, while another is always suffering from pangs of varieties of diseases; one is able to digest whatever he eats, while another having ample to eat, is not able to digest even the smallest portion of wholesome nutritious diet; one is
For Private Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
