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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
to find out who had bought the sixteen shawls. He learnt that they we sold to Bhadra who made two equal pieces of each shawl and then distri all the thirty-two pieces among her thirty--wo daughters-in-law. He astonished to further learn that Bhadra's daughters-in-law, finding the touch of the shawls rough and hard, used them as door-mats. King Shrenika w to Bhadra's mansion. Bhadra asked Shalibhadra to come down and pay respects to King Shrenika.
Shalibhadra sad, "O mother, you are the owner of the house. Ple buy Shrenika and pay its price. What is the need of my coming for that ?"
Bhadra said, "O my dear son, Shrenika is not a thing to be bought sold. He is our king. He is our protector. He is our master."
On hearing the word 'master' Shalibhadra's mind became perturbed thought: "Am I not the master of myself ? Is somebody else my master? Am I to be dependent on some other person? Let me adopt thar course which can free me from all masters, make me selfdependent and fearless." He was determined to overcome dependence and helplessness. Obeying his mother's order he paid his respects to Shrenika. But he was troubled by the question: "Why am I not my own master despite all my wealth and prosperity ? What is real freedom ? What is Ultimate Release!"
At that time he had an occasion to listen to the preaching of a Jaina monk named Dharmaghosha. On hearing the discourse, he made up his mind to adopt the course of spiritual discipline and conquer his
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