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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
Saddalaputra : "I shall strike the culprit, or even kill him. How can I remain
calm ?"
Mahavira : “This means that you hold that man responsible for his acts. If the acts are fixed by Fate or Destiny, then why should you hold him responsible for the acts ? Should man accept determinism solely to disown his responsibility for his evil deed and reject it solely to take revenge upon others for their offences ? O Saddalaputra ! Is the doctrine of determinism conducive to progress? Can it bring and establish order in the world ?"
Lord Mahavira's persuasion and explanation enlightened Saddalaputra who declared : "O Lord ! By your grace I have realised the truth. Now I can clearly see that determinism leads to idleness, dullness and hypocrisy; it is escapism; it is an excuse for escaping from the responsibility of one's own sinful life. By accepting it one deceives oneself and others."
Saddalputra
Mahavira said "O Saddalaputra ! One may deceive oneself. One mar deceive even others. But one can never deceive the well-established order based on causation."
Saddalaputra was very impressd by Mahavira's cogent arguments and deep knowledge. He bowed down in reverence before Mahavira and requested him to enlighten him more by his teaching Tirthankara Mahavira delivered a sermon on the essence of Jaina philosophy and religion Saddalaputra was convinced of the truth of the principles propounded by Mahavira. He became a Jaina lay devotee. He resolved to follow the twelve vows of the Jaina householder. He rejected the doctrine of determinism and accepted the Jaina path of spiritual discipline that recognised importance or human effort. When he came home, he explained the whole story to his wife Agnimitra. Agnimitra adorned her chariot with garlands and went to see
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