Shraman Mahavira

Author(s): Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Mitra Parishad Calcutta

Page 64

46
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
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'They did not grow sesamum there' 'Did not the beasts trouble him there?
'I have no knowledge of his coming across any wild beast like lion or tiger but the wild dogs did pester him. The dogs there were peculiarly ferocious Even a stick would not deter them The Lord had neither a stick nor a rod to scare them away The canine pack would surround him and bite. Some rogues would call the beasts and set them after him with a "shoo " When the latter pounced upon him the ruffians would dance with pleasure A few happened to be gentle They would interpose and drive away the dogs
'Once the Lord faced the sun, standing A few primitives arrived there They confronted him'
'The Lord did not feel inclined to glance at them His aloofness was intolerable They booed him and spat over him The Lord was placed as a statue They wondered "What a being! We spat and he refuses to be provoked."
"See how I provoke him," Said another.
'He took a pinch of dust. The Lord's eyes were half open He threw sand into these The Lord would neither lower the eye-lids nor show any signs of provocation It was a fiasco for the mischievous rustic He hit the Lord with his angry fists And still the Lord was unmoved Then he threw stones and later bones At last he pierced him with a lance The watchers were shouting The Lord was mute and placid He, on the other hand, reflected contentment The irate man was tired of the whole business 'Let's go," he said, "If he were a human being he would certainly have been provoked "?
'Once the Lord was meditating in a mountainous valley. He squatted in the lotus posture A few labourers were going to the jungle to work They saw the Lord sitting there Never . had they seen a man sitting this wise Their curiosity detained them there for an hour The Lord was as fixed as ever It was so astonishing Is he from human species or some other
1 'Ayaro' 9/3/36 2 'Ayaro' 9/3/10-11, 'Acharangachurni' pp 320