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The Ajita-purana of Ranna
269
And thus, the ruler of the six divisions of the Earth got up from the assembly hall, and consecrated Bhagiratha as king, set his mind on Jain initiation, and undertook austerities, at the side of kevalins, having abandoned all attachments.
Then that false Brahman thought, << Enough of struggles, enough of grieving! >>, and by the power of his mantras, brought the disembodied sons of Sagara back to life, as they were not really dead at all. They came quickly, and hearing that the Universal Emperor had taken Jain initiation, they also became dispassionate, and became ascetics at the side of kēvalins. (V, 51)
And Manikētu revealed the trickery he had done, and felt no more remorse at his fraud. <<Those good friends who tell us to take on the Dharma are for us the best benefactors, there are no better! >> And thus joyfully praising Maņikētu, Sagara the ascetic undertook fierce austerities on the peak of the Sammēda Mountain, and in a short time, this Sagara the sage like an elephant shook off the chains of Samsara that had bound him, frightened away and caused to flee the enemies of karma, and by following the true path, reached the ultimate state of liberation. (V, 52-53)
NOTES
1. The Kaşayas are anger, pride and greed.
2. The eight auspicious objects: a parasol, a flag, a pitcher, a chowrie, the special supratitşthaka vessel, a golden water-jar, a mirror, a fan.
3. The five kalyāṇas or auspiciousnesses: non-harming, truth, absence of theft, celibacy and lack of possessions.
4. The three lazinesses are laziness of body, mind and speech.
5. The three yogas or guptis: remembering that the soul is pure, guarding speech, and dharmic practices. These are mano-gupti, vacana-gupti and kāya-gupti, respectively.
6. The boundless four: boundless knowledge, boundless views, and boundless courage.
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