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WORSHIPPED HERE ARRESTED THERE
89
Megha sat in his chamber when the two monks were produced before him He recognised the Lord and released them 1
The repeated arrests of the Lord can be explained on the basis of the contemporary political climate There existed minor states then These states constantly manoeuvred to annex 'one another by fair or foul means Their spies used to roam about in disguise This necessitated the police force of every state to be ever vigilant They kept the border of their state sealed against every outsider (6) The guards of Kupiya state put the Lord in custody, taking him to be a spy? The Lord's taciturnity strengthened their suspicion The event was a household-talk all over the state Two nuns of Lord Parshwa's tradition lived there One was called Vijaya and the other Pragalbha Learning of this incident they visited the place of occurrence There they disclosed his identity Consequently the Lord was freed 3 (7) Similar was the treatment given to the Lord at Lohargala * The state was unfriendly and hostile with its neighbouring state Its officers kept a vigil over the visitors from the enemy state Lord Mahavira and Goushalak visited the place during those days of mounting tension The guards enquired of their identity They did not respond As a result they were arrested and produced before king Jitshatru The occultist Utpal had arrived there from Asthik village and was present in the court He was dumbfounded to see the Lord in captivity Visibly moved, he remonstrated, 'How very unjust!'
Said the king, 'Is it prescribed in your occultism to interfere in the state administration?'
'Treat it not as an interference your Majesty it is a gross indiscretion of your officers'
1 Fifth year of the pursuits at Kalambuka Vide Awashyakchurni' 1 pt
p 290 2 Sixth year of the pursuits 3 'Awashyakchurni' i pt pp 291, 292 4 Sixth year of the pursuits
