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88
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
could be 'Lord Mahavira is roaming about this region He is said to be unfalteringly absorbed in his practices Could it be that one of the two beings is Mahavira?'
The two female mendicants came to the scene of occurrence They found Lord Mahavira silent and unruffled and the guards violent and trubulent The guards were performing their stern duty and the Lord suffering in silence
'Good guards! Treat him not as a thief He is Lord Mahavira, the illustrious son of Siddhartha Shall you require any more introduction?' Said the two female mendicants The guards were taken aback They had nothing but regret for their reprehensible conduct Said they,' Venerable mendicants, we are grateful to you You rescued us from a great moral lapse No further introduction do we need We seek your good offices for the purpose'
They bowed penitent to the Lord's feet The compassionate, sublime looks of the Lord with the usual tranquil air lifted up the oppressive weight off their conscience
'My Lord! our guards have shown you disrespect But the great saints have ever shown indulgence to indiscretions of the fatuous It is our conviction that you will be merciful to them We, sire, are two humble sisters of Utpal, the occultist'
Thus they incidentally revealed their own identity and returned to their abode The Lord left for his next destination 1 (5) Megh and Kalhasti were two brothers Kalambuka comprised their domain They were residents of the border territory Once Kalhasti left with a gang of robbers to commit theft The Lord was on way to Kalambuka from Chaurak Goushalak accompanied him
Kalhast sought his introduction The Lord uttered no word Kalhasti repeated his question with the same results Goushalak also kept mum Kalhasti was irritated He abetted his colleagues to bind them with ropes and commit them before Megha
1 'Awashyakchurni' I pt pp 286, 287
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