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50
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
from feet upwards He was all the more perplexed His physiognomy indicated him to be a mighty emperor and the circumstances were of an ambulating mendicant It was all very confusing The Lord came out of himself Pusya bowed and said "How be it that you are alone my Lord?'
'Each of us comes here alone'
So do we when we go herefrom'
'I don't discuss metaphysics, sire, 'talk like a realist' 'Am I really alone?'
'Are you not alone my Lord when you have discarded your kins?'
'I carry my kins with myself Absolute self-absorption is my father Non-violence is my mother Continence is my brother Non-attachment is my sister Peace is my consort Compassion is my daughter Tranquility is my home Truth is my company I am ever with my family How can I be called alone?'
'Sire' Confuse me not with a quiz I submit to you my enigma Pray solve it Your features reveal that you ought to be an emperor, while your circumstances declare you to be a commoner I am faced with the worst dilemma of my life The knowledge of a life-time is at stake My life itself is at stake It is not an ordinary problem that is posed before me'
'Who is an emperor Pusya?'
'The one who is led by the regal wheel'
'Who is an emperor?'
'The one who owns the royal umbrella granting protection to an army occupying an area of twelve Yojanas+
'Who is an emperor?'
'The one who owns the miraculous drill, seed sown by which ripens in a day'
'Pusya, see for yourself above, below and in transverse directions and you will see myself led by the wheel of Dharma Conduct is my regal umbrella that has the virtue to protect
+ Yojana is twenty-four miles
