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THE THUNDERBOLT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST NON-VIOLENCE
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Having performed this heinous crime Gaushalak resumed volleying abuses on the Lord An ascetic Sunakshatra who hailed from Ayodhya stood up He endeavoured to pacify hım Sunakshatra's pacific role further infuriated Gaushalak He again focussed his fiery powers on him to consume him and reduce him to ashes
The Lord himself then said, 'Gaushalak! I initiated and imparted wisdom to you and you give such a poor account of yourself I advise you to shun an ignoble conduct'
The Lord's counsel fell on deaf ears It all the more enraged him Gaushalak withdraw himself a few steps and concentrated hard to burn the Lord The suddenness of the demonaic step stunned the disciples of the Lord Smoke and flames flew high Screams were heard all around
The flames could not pierce the Lord's body They were only girdling the Lord's person It slightly singed him The blazing power leapt up the sky and re-entered Gaushalak's body
Saia Gaushalak, ‘May you live long Kashyap! You are singed by the glow of my austerities You are sure to die in an unenlightened state within the next six months of bilious fever and burning sensation
Said the Lord, 'Gaushalak! I won't die within six months I have full sixteen years to live' While Kaushtak chaitya witnessed this dialogue the streets and highways of Shravasti were thronged with people discussing the great contest Some said that the two tirthankaras were having a verbal duel Another said, 'It's an unequal contest as Mahavira is very powerful' Still another held that Gaushalak is equally powerful and the two being equal the outcome was impossible to predict Each corner-meeting propounded a specific thesis One group would favour Mahavira and another Gaushalak
The news spread that Gaushalak had burnt two monks of Mahavira's breed by virtue of his occuit powers Some
